A viewe of some part of such publike wants and disorders as are in the service of God : within her Majesties countrie of Wales, together with an humble petition, unto this high court of Parliament for their speedy redresse. Anno 1588

m

LIBRARY

>.

/ herehij certify that the imiyression of this reprint of
this work has been strictljj limited to thirty copies, no perfect
copy being preserved either in the ivaste or even in proof-
sheets. '

/^

March, 18G1.

/t^*-*^

\

•'-A^

A viewe of some part of such publike

wants and disorders as o,re in the service of

God, within her Majesties countrie

of Wales, togitlier with an liumhle

Petition, unto this high Court

of Parliament for their speedy

redresse.

Anno 1588.
FRCni THR ORIGINAL EDITION.

EDITED BY

JAMES 0. HALLIWELL, ESQ., F.E.S.

LONDON:

PRINTED BY THOMAS RICHARDS,

37, GREAT QUEEN STREET.

18G1.

PREFACE.

The original title-j^age of the following work runs as
follows, — "A viewe of some part of such publike
wants and disorders as are in the service of God
within her Majesties countrie of Wales, togither with
an humLle Petition unto this high Court of Parhament
for their speedy redresse. Wherein is shewed not only
the necessitie of reforming the state of religion among
that people, but also the onely way, in regarde of sub-
staunce, to bring that reformation to passe." There
is no date, excepting on the half-title to the work
itself. The author's preface is addressed " to all those
that faythfully love the Lord Jesus, and unfainedly
desire the flowrishing estate of Sion." In the course of
it, he says, — " It was a common demaund the last Par-

VI

liament, where the cause of reformation (being then
laboured for) was 26 or 28 years agone, and wherfore,
after so many years of the Gospell, enjoyed in this
land, the motion of altering the outward state of the
Church in the offices and officers therof, came it so out
of time to be considered off? Least the like objection
should be used in the ages to come, behold, the moun-
tayns of Wales do now, in the 31 yeare of the raign of
Queen Elizabeth, call heaven and earth to witness that
they are weary of their dumb ministers, non-residents,
Lord Bishops, &c., and that tJiey desire to be watered
by the dewe of Christ's holy Gospell, and to be com-
passed about with that beautifuU wall of his holy
government. It were pity indeed but I should intreat
the high court of Parliament to heale the disease of my
countrie, but so notwithstanding as they would suffer
the cause of the griefe and misery thereof still to
remaine, the Parliament should be sued unto for helpe
against the disease and bane of the country of Wales,
but so as they would favor the causes thereof. And
what malladie is there, I pray you, in our Church,

Vll

whereof the clumbe ministers, non-residents, our Lord
Bishops, with the rest of that ungodly generation are
not the cause. I should spare them who spare not the
Church, and in whose eyes the glory of God is not
esteemed, and yet the Lord knoweth that I hate them
no farther then they are God's enemies. Their favor I
desire not as long as they continue to be the adversa-
ries of the Church. If they would yeeld peace unto it,
I would be soon brought to lay down my complaints
against them. Concerning you, my deare countrimen,
whom God, of his infinit goodnes and mercy, hath
translated out of the kingdome of darknes unto the
blessed possession of the heavenly Jerusalem, I be-
seech you very earnestly that you would be carefull to
walk worthy the Gospel of Christ. Be careful hereof,
whether your abode be in England or in Wales, and,
at any hand, endevor to live where you mayenjoie the
meanes of the Word, and be carefull to have the Lord
purely worshipped in your families. Particularly, let
me here put you in mind, right honourable and wor-
shipfuU who of my countrcyc arc in this Parliament,

Vlll

to acquaint this honorable court with the miseries of
our country, and to be earnest for a redresse."

It is hardly necessary here to enumerate Penri's
other well-known works. The present is selected as
the one, perhaps, the most important to those who are
interested in the religious history of Wales.

Feb. ^ 861.

A viewe of some part of such publike

wants and disorders as a,re in the service of

God, within her Majesties countrie

of Wales, togither ivith an humhie
Petition, unto this high C*ourt of
^. Parliament for their speedy redresse.

>" Anno 1588.

^HE cetcrnall God, before ^Yhom I nowe stand, and
-*- shall stande in that day, eyther to be acquited
or condemned ; knoweth that the pitiful! and miser-
able estate of my pitifull and miserable countreimen,
the inhabitants of AValcs ; doe inforce me in most
dutifull and humble maner, at this time, both to lay
open before your eyes, whoe, by the providence of
God, are now to be assembled togither in this highe
court of parlament : the wantes and deformities of the
service of god in wales, my deere and native country,
and also to intreat with the like submission, that the
same by your wisdomes may be speedely redressed.
The Lords holy service amonge that people hath many
corruptions and more wants. Their case in regarde
therof is very pitifull. Few or none there be who are
thorowly touched to have compassion thereof. The
means of redresse is in the hands of this assembly, who
are met together, to the end that al the subjects of

B

2 A Supplication unto the

this kingclome, may with fredome and liberty acquaint
them with their suits and Petitions, for the promotinge
of Gods glory, and the good of their cuntry. And
therfore, in that I make known unto this high court,
the greefes of my country, and desire the redresse
thereof, therin I neither intreat anything which lieth
not in your power to grant, nor crave that, wlierin the
case being neglected by others, I may not lawfully be
a suter. The reason that mooveth me thereunto, is
the discharge of my duty towards the Lord my God,
towards his Church, towardes my native country, and
towards vou of this honorable assemblie, which coulde
not stand with my silence nowe in this suit. Con-
cerning the Lorde, because I am a pore wretched
sinner, upon whom he hath shewed great mercies, in
pardoning my great offences often committed against
his majestic ; I have by his grace taken a bonde of
my selfe, to seeke the promoting of his honor by al
means possible : and in the seeking thereof, to utter
the truth as far as my calling wil permit, without
resjpect of person, time, place, estate, or condition of
life whatsoever ; and so to become an utter enemie
unto all these corruptions (by what authoritie or
person soever they be maintained) whereby his holy
service is hindred. And therfore you of this honorable
assembly are not to marvel, that I both seeke the over-
throw of these corruptions in Wales, whereof anon I
wil speak more at larg, wherby the Lords holy and

High Court of Parliament. 3

sacred ministery is shamefully polluted, and liis service
with the salvation of his peoi^le greatly withstood : and
also lay uppon you whose authority, good name, credit,
estimation, and high place, I ought and by the grace
of god wil defend, against al the detractors therof, even
with the losse of my life when it shalbe needful ; the
staine and discredit of denying gods heavenly truth,
the passage joyned with the continuance of the lament-
able miserie of soules, and the defence of monstrous
impietie, even in gods own house, unles you yeeld unto
the suit, wherunto at this present you are entreated to
be ftivorable. As for the Church of God into which I
have bin begotten thorowe the word preched, by means
of my abode in Englande, in these peaceable dayes of
her highnes. I have wholly dedicated my selfe to
seeke the flowrishing estate thereof by labouring to
beautifie the same, both in the plucking up by the
rootes, of these filthie Italian weedes, wherwith it is
nowe miserably deformed ; and planting therein what-
soever might be for the comlines of Gods orchard, in
respect of my poore countrey ; because it pleased the
Lord of life that therin I first sawe the light of the
suune, and have been by my parents there living,
brought up in both the universities of this land, to the
end if ever the Lord enabled me, I should procure the
good of my native countrymen, I have vowed my
selfe dutifully to benefite them al the waies I may.
And in doing them good, I purpose not to respect

4 A Supplication unto the

mine own quietnes, yea or life, where my death can
win them the gospel. And wherein shall stand my
deare cimtrimen in any steed, if not by speaking in
their behalf then, when their wantes are most pitiful,
and they not able, or not willing, to make knowne
their miserie '? if not in blessing their deaf ears, in
removing the stumblinge blocke from before the eies of
the blinde ? if not in labouringe to bring them to
heaven, who of their owne natures should live eternally
in a worse place to their woe 1 Their misery at this
day consisting partly, in the great ignorance of God
wherein they live, partly in those corruptions and un-
lawful callings, where by the Church generally witliin
her majesties dominions is pestered ; I am no we with
all humilytie to seeke the redresse both of the one and
the other at the handes of this honorable assembly.
This ignoraunce also, and these corruptions standing as
enemies in the way to hinder my bretheren from
eternal life, I professe my selfe to seeke their over-
throwe and confusion, and by the Lords assistance as
longe as I live, never leave either of both, untill the
Church of God in AValcs be disburdened of suche un-
naturall plantes. Concerning you of this honorable
assembly, seing I have reccaved the former blessings
throughe your handes by meanes of the outward peace,
whereof hir right excellent majestic hath made the
AA'holc land partaker from the Lord, I cannot of con-
science ; but in most humble submission and reverent

High Court of Parliament. 5

manner, put you in minde of the estate wherein you
stand before the Lord, unlesse at this your meetinge,
there be order taken, for the reforming in Wales of
such things as now shalbe made known unto you to be
amisse, and you earnestly with all reverence and dutie,
entreated to reforme. May it please you therefore to
understand, that there is not only such a defect of the
service of the everliving God in all the pubhke meet-
inges for the most part, of all the inhabitantes of
Wales, hir majesties free borne subjects and people :
as the most parishes within that cuntry, want the
means of salvation, and have wanted the same all this
time of her prosperous government : but also that there
is such corruption.-i in that part of Gods service which
is estabHshed, as the Lords holy and sacred ministerie,
with al other ecclesiastical functions, pertayning unto
the outward service of God, and the government of
his Church, are most intoUerablie abused, and pro-
phaned by such as are there toUerated to intermedle
with them. And may it j^lcase you in like sort, that
some order may be taken, whereby the service of God
in his pure worship, being as you heare, many waies
defective and corrupt among the people, may be with-
out delay restored unto the iutegritie, which shalbe
acceptable in the sight of God, and the meanes of their
salvation who professe the same. This most humble
and most waightie petition, I am the rather encoraged
at this time to prefer, in as nmch as it doth not only

6 A Sup2')lication unto the

tend to the salvation of many thousandes soules, whom
now (alasse) perish in miserable darknes and ignorance,
but concerneth the furtherance, which is the point
especially to be respected, of the pure and sincere
worship of the eternall God. And it is that cause,-
being my second incouragement, which you of this
liigh court of parliament professe all of you to favour.
For who is he that will not professe himself to be the
favorer of a suit tending to the honor of God, and the
deliverance of men from eternall woe and perdition "?
And it is that cause, wherein every of you are bound
upon your alegeance unto the Lord and her majesty,
laying al other maters aside, first and principally to
deale ; and so to deale as you suffer not your selves,
for any worldly respectes, either by the utter rejecting,
or by the cold and carelesse intertaining hereof, to
betraie God, to betray his truth, to betraie the salvation
of men, and to betray the whole kingdom e unto the
fiery wrath of God's heavie displeasure : Of all which
sinnes the Lord himselfe findeth and pronounceth every
one of you to be guiltie, that will not labour at this
time of your assemblie, for the promoting of the cause
nowe in hand. And howesoever in former times, he
hath seemed hitherto to wincke at the carelesse respect,
which you have had to his true service : yet you are
now to understand, that is to be feared, lest shamefull
and speedie destruction will betide the whole kingdome,
if the suite whereuppon the worshipp of Gods owne

High Court of Parliament. 7

Majestie standetli ; be as slenderly entreated of the
parliament of England, as alway heretofore it hath bene.
And that the petition may appear to be no other, then
that, which he by whome alone all kingdoms and
common welths are maintained, requireth without
contradiction to be graunted, by this honourable
assemblie, except his heavie wrath and displeasure,
would be procured upon the whole land. And that it
may apear to be no other then that, the graunt where
of, is the onlie way to save them on whose behalf it is
made; no other then that which no state, no kingdom,
no councell, prince, potentate, high or lowe can denie,
except they would shewe them selves to have no care
of religion and pietie : that these thinges I say may
appear, we are to consider more at large of the petition,
and then whether it be such, as upon the denial thereof,
the wrath and anger of God is to be expected, for to
fal upon them, who shall denie the same, and the whol
land for their sinne. Nowe therefore, if there be
nothing else required at your hand, in this whole
treatise following, but that which the Lord himselfe
from heaven, pronounceth to be so neerly joined with
the former points ; as upon the refusall of the suite,
you shal openly declare, that you are an assembly
wherein the Lords cause shal not be hard ; an assemblie
wherein the felicitie of miserable men shall not be
resj^ected ; an assembly who wittingly and willingly
call for the judgments of God upon the whole king-

8 A Supplication unto the

dome ; an assembly wherein trueth, religion, and
pietie can beare no swaye : then I hope that none will
loe found in this honorable court, to be such an enemie
unto the honor of God, the felicitie of men, and the
quiet state of this common wealth : none so prophane,
wicked, and irreligious, as even to thinke that the con-
vsultation of this matter may be differred. But if on
the other side, the suite be founde to be of no such
importance, as before is expressed, or if I be found to
write any thing impertinent unto the former points,
or not to have behaved my selfe so dutifull in my stile
and manner of writing towards this honorable court, as
it became the basest vassel under heaven, having a
calling to deale in the like cause, to carie himself
towardes the princes of his people, then let not my
life be precious in your sight. Here therefore, \di\\
all humility and reverence, before the eternall God,
his elect Angels and Church, her right excellent, our
dread soveraigne, Queene Elizabeth ; I call everye one
of you to recorde, that upon the perill of my life, I will
shewe, that you cannot but give care unto the suite,
which is now preferred unto you, though by my base
and sinnefuU hands, except you will neglect the honor
of God, set light by the salvation of his people,
endanger the state of her Majesty (whom the Lord
long preserve unto his glorie) with the whole kingdome,
and proclaime unto the world, that all religion and
truth is perished from amongc you. My manner of

High Court of Parliament. 9

dealing herein, as it shalbe by the grace of God in all
dutie and submission ; as writing imto those, whose
authoritie and places, I am not without great reverence
to consider, so shal it be plaine and free w^ithout
minishing or clipping any part of the trueth (for the
feare or favor of any creature) which it concerneth you
to heare ; wherein I will utter nothing but that, which
by the assistance of God, I will scale with my blood,
if I shall be driven thereunto. The reason mooving

o

me to so free and plaine a kind of writing, as neither
I dealing in the same cause, nor yet any els before me
have used, is not (the Lord is my witnes) because I
would hereby, arrogate unto my selfe, the prayse of a
bolde rebuker of states, and great personages ; but it
is first, because I deale in that matter, upon the goodnes
whereof, I may presume to speak the whole truth of
God, especially writing unto an assembly professing
true religion. Secondly, because the suite is put up
unto them, who although they professe to seeke the
honor of God : yet have heretofore altogether un-
dutifully refused to give the hearing unto any motion
tending unto the reformation of the religion, which
they pretend to favor and professe. Some of them
thinking the cause at all not worthie to be delt in.
Others, not altogether disliking the suite, judged not-
w^ithstanding the time wherein it was to be handled,
not to be as yet come. Because they saw that the
base and supplicatorie maner whereby it desired the

c

10 A Supplication unto the

hearing, made al other causes comming with authority
from men, to be preferred before it. The most who in
deede sincerely favoreth the cause, have thought it to
be a gainles matter to deale at all therein. For as
much as it is the generall voyce of all men, that
reformation cannot be taken in hand, without the high
and heavie displeasure of her Majestic, who (to speake
as I am perswaded) being borne in hand, by the un-
godly perswasions of some godlesse and irreligious
men of the Ecclesiastical state, that the Church within
her Majesties dominions, cannot be at a better stay
then it is ; hath not without great reason, bene hither-
to the hardliar induced to have the cause of rehgion
againe dealt in, which she is perswaded altogether to
be in a tollerable sort, according to the will of her
God. Being also undutifully borne in hand that the
endevour of reforming religion is nothing else, but a
new fangled and seditious attempt, proceeding from
the factious and discontented braines of those, who are
slandered to desire thereby nothing els, but the altera-
tion of the present state, dangerous to her royal
crowne and person, and ruinous unto the whole king-
dome. In respect whereof, the cause offering it selfe
ao-aine to be considered of this high court ; it became
the same to come, with a majesticall and terrifpng
countenance; that if it pleased the Lorde, it might
this way for feare compell them dutifully to stoupe
unto it, whose favor and good liking in a peaceable

High Court of Parliament. 11

manner, hitherto it coulde by no means procure. And
it became it so to offer it selfe, as withall it might
appeare, that the enterprise of reforming religion, is
not a matter tendinge to the disturbinge of the
commonwealth, and the dishking of her Majestic.
Except men would slanderously surmise the estate of
this kingdome, to be so out of square, as Gods trueth
cannot have passage therem, without the imminent
ruine of al, and slanderously report her Majesties Avill
and affection, to be then intoUerably crossed, when the
will of her God, is sought to be established : which
assertions, shalbe manifested to be grievous, and un-
dutifull slaunders against hir Majestic and the state ;
by the opening of such thinges as being amisse within
Wales, the Lorde requireth to be reformed, at the
handes of her Majestic and this Parliament.

The wants therefore, and corruptions of the service
of God in Wales, joyned with the misery of that
people are ; first, in that the most congregations
within that countrie, have all this time of the Gospell
preached in Englande, had no other service of God,
for the working of fayth and repentance sounding in
them, but such, as whereby the people partaking
the same, cannot possibly be saved ordinarily. Mistake
me not. For I doe not saye, that e3^her that service,
which all this time of her Majesties goverment they
have had, and now have, is idolatrous, or that by the
publike authoritie of her Majestic and the Parhament,

12 A Supplication unto the

they have bin pubHkely enjoyned, to professe any
other rehgion, then that only true religion, in the
profession whereof alone, ordinary salvation is to be
had. But I affirme that God is not otherwise served
in the most assemblies there, then that way, whereby
the food of eternall life shall never be ordinarily con-
vayed to the people. This I affirme, and this I will
stand unto, because for the space nowe of 30 yeares
complete, they have every where, for the most part,
wanted the preaching of the word, without which, as
it is plainely set clowne in manye places of the word,*
and I have els where largely prooved unto her Majestic
and this high court, ordinarily, no fleshe can be saved.
Now, my Lords, and you the rest of this Parliament,
consider I pray you, what care hath bin had of the
soulesofmen under her Majesties governement, and
how in the dayes of reckoning and account these
things wil be answered. Consider how lamentable a
case it is, that in the flowrishingest government for
outward peace, that is again under the cope of heaven ;
where publike idolatrie hath bene bannished, not one
family or one tribe ; but a whole nation should perishe
for want of knowledge. And see whether I have not
sufficient cause to deale with you on the behalfe of my
countrie. My crie, my crie is not the crie of (Deut.

*' Jam. 1. 12; 1 Pet. 1. 21 ; Job 33. 23; 1 Cor. I. 21; Horn.
10. 14; Eplies. 1. 13; and 2. 17; xlcts 20. 32; Pro. 8. 34, 33;
Isay. 53. 12.

High Court of Pai-liament. 13

11. 8) giltlesse and innocent blood, which were verye
woefull, but of lost and damned soules, which is most
lamentable : and give you eare unto it, my LL. least
the blood of soules bee laide to your charge, and
required at your hands. For it is not the indispensible
dutie of the Parliament to give eare unto this crie ?
Howe then I j^raye you, will it be answered before the
judge of all the worlde in the day of judgement, if
you be carelesse of a dutie so necessarily required at
your handes : when our Saviour Christ affirmed it
(Luk. 9. 22) to be nothing availeable unto men, to
winne the whole worlde, if they lose their owne soules.
Did he thereby, thinke you, not only enforce that they
are in a miserable taking, who in respect of the
knowledge of their salvation, know not the right hand
from the left : but also forcible in feare, that
governours unto whome of trust he hath committed
inferiours, discharge not their duties in his sight,
unlesse they have great care of the salvation of their
people ? Questionlesse he doth. Let them therefore
be afraide of seternall shame and confusion, who
blushe not to be busie in the consultation of everye
trifling matter, and would be accounted great state
men for tything Miute and Cummin, whereas in the
meane time, they are not ashamed, no not to with-
stande the consultation, purposing to bring that to
passe, which the wisdome of God himself e Jesus Christ,
hath pronounced to be worthy the whole world, even

14 A SujypUcation unto the

the saving liealth of men. Wei the day will come,
how soone he alone knoweth, in whose handes are the
keyes of all knowledge ; wherein it shall appeare by
w^ofull experience, and that too late, what an heavie
reckoning will bee made with such Parliament men.
And take you heed that are of this assembly, now at
the length after so many warnings, lest you be found
in their number, who make hght account of the cause
of the Gospell offered unto them, and who thinke the
matter of mens salvation, to be nothing else but a con-
ceit, wherewith the immaginations of melanchollicke
heads are usually troubled. The cause one day shall^e
found worth the consideration, howsoever men now
thinke that they may without dammage securely con-
temne the same. And I w^oulde humbly intreate this
high courte more seriously to consider thereof. The
suite is, that Gods honour may be truely yeelded unto
him by the subjectes of this kingdome, and that their
soules may be saved in the daye of Jesus Christ ; such
a suit as a greater cannot be consulted of amongst the
sonnes of men. And will not the wisest and greatest
assembly in the land, take order that this may be bar-
kened unto ^ Wil they not consult of a waye how men
may come unto the means whereby they may be saved;
to what end else, my Lordes, should you be assembled
together, if this cause be not handled in your meet-
ings 1 A Parliament gathered together in England, in
the dayes of the Gospell under Queene Elizabeth, and

High Court of Parliament. 15

tlie cause of Gods honor, and the felicitie of the sub-
jectes never thought upon, never accounted worthy the
consultation. Such a state and such a government
may flowrish and continue in peace for a time : but
undoubtedly the destruction therof is decreed with the
Lord, the execution of which decree, shal not be over-
long deferred, without speedie repentance. Can there
be a meeting of all states in the lande to consult in
Parliament, what may be most behoffuU for the pro-
moting of Gods glory e, and the good of the common-
welth, and yet no care had, how the seternal miserie of
a whole nation, even almost the fourth part of the
kingdome may be prevented 1 What is this else but to
dally with Gods honour, and to delude his people of
their salvation 1 AVhen especially after so many Par-
liaments, in a kingdome freely professing the Gospell
for the space of 30. yeares, in the fourth part of the
kingdome, there shalbe founde such grosse ignorance,
as no region under heaven, coulde at anye time yeelde
the like president, so long after the bannishing of
idolatrie. I doe not solace my self in considering the
miserie of my native cuntrimen, neither do I thinke
thereof at all, unlesse it be to bewaile their estate, and
to consider how it may be redressed. This I may say
of them without offence, that they never as yet for the
most part, enjoyed the preaching of the Gospell, since
they wer professed idolaters under poperie. Now
what felicitie concerning spirituall things, a profession

16 A Supplication unto the

without the Gospell preached can have, the same they
may enjoye I clenie not. But what will be the end of
such a profession? verely even this. After a few
dayes miserably spent in this life such professors
shalbe sure (for any thing that is otherwise revealed)
to hve in hell for evermore. Will it then profit them
at all, to have lived in a kingdome professing true
religion, though they have gayued the whol world
therein, seeing they are sure to lose their owne soules :
because in this life they have wanted the preaching of
the Gospell. And if this that I have set downe be
not sufficient to expresse their miserie, and to moove
you to consider of them, I know not what may be
accounted miserable, or what may procure compassion.
Or if this will not moove you to graunt them the
preaching of the Gospell, then shal you leave unto
posterities, but a small testimonie of your religious
hearts, and love to the Lords sanctuarie. Is there not
an heaven my Lordes, after this life for men to goe
unto? Is it possible that they shall ordinarily go
thither, who never enjoyed the preaching of the
GospeU? Or can our people in AVales looke for
extraordinarie salvation ? And will not you see that
they be no longer destitute of this meanes, whereby
they may walk in the statutes of life and not die ? Is
this peticion that God may be truly honored, and the
soules of men saved, hurtful to the state, dangerous to
her Majesties crowne and dignitie, and contrary unto

High Court of Parliament. 17

hir affection "? cannot this state stand if God should be'
truly honored, and that people trained in the waies of
godlines ? Cannot her Majesties crowne and dignitie
stand, if these thinges be enacted in ParHament ?
And must shee needs be undutifully gainsaid, when
the honor of her God, and the blessednesse of her
people are pleaded for ? Whosoever have, do, or will
slaunder their soveraigne, and the whole state, in this
vile and undutifuU sort, it is pitie they were not
severely punished. Againe, my LL., is that a religious
assembly ? Is that an assemblie wherein trueth, pietie,
the honor of God, and the eeternall happinesse of men
shal beare any sway, where this petition can not be
granted 1 Wliich desireth nothing els, but that whiche
may be enacted without the great hurt of any, and
which ought to be graunted, whatsoever in the judg-
ment of fleshly wise men might seeme to ensue thereof.
They will never therefore in the sight of God and his
Churche, escape the ignominie and staine of irreligious
and profane men, whose eyes will not be mooved with
compassion at the estate of our people, and defects of
Gods service among them. Nowe if I be thought to
have reported any untrueth, concerning theu^ estate,
let me be brought face to face, for the triall hereof,
with those unto whom the care (I should say the
spoile) of the Church there is committed, and being
convinced to have uttered any untrueth, let me have no
favour, but dye the death, before you of this honourable

D

18 A Supiolication unto the

assemblye, and my blood be upon my owne heade, for
impeaching the credite of the rulers of my people and
their governement, iindutifully by publike writing,
whose estimation I know it to be unlawful! for me,
even in thought once to violate.

I doe here therefore before your Hh. offer to proove
more at large, that the most congregations in Wales,
want the very especiall outwarde markes of a Church,
and so the meanes of salvation by the worde preached,
and the comfort of fayth, by the right administration
of the Sacraments. I also offer to proove, that your
Hh. without your speedie repentaunce, shalbe reckoned
with, because that in this point, you have plowed but
iniquitie, and sowed wickednes, and so as Job sayth,
you shall reape the same (Job 4. 8). Beleeve them
not, who tell you that all is well within Wales, and
that they are a sort of clamorous and undiscreet men,
who affirme the contrary. Beleve them not, who tell
you that it belongeth not unto your duties to be
carefull of the estate of the Church, and that the
Lorde recjuireth no more at your hands, but the
mayntenance of outwarde peace. As though men
committed to your governement, were but droves of
bruite beastes, onely to be foddered, and kept from
external invasions and inroods. Give eare rather
unto the words of the Prophet (Je. 17. 13. 14.) who
with a loude voyce crieth unto you ; Why will you die,
you, your families and people, by the sword, by the

High Court of Parliament. 19

famine, and by the pestilence. And why will you he
damned (I may alude without injurie unto the word)
as the Lord hath spoken against all those governours,
that wil not see their people provided* for, of the
meanes of salvation. Therefore heare not the words
of the prophets, who tell you, that you shall neyther
see sword nor famine, though you be still as careles
of your people, as hitherto you have bene. Looke the
punishments both of flattering prophetes, and of those
that are deceived by their flatterie. Jerem. 14. 15.
Heare them not I say, but obeye the Lord in the
execution of that dutie which he exacteth at your
hands, by calling your people to the knowledge of his
Sonne, that you may Hve. For why should this lande
be made desolate, for this your carelesnes ? Jerem. 27.17.
They prophesie vanitie and lies unto you, which saye
peace, peace, while you dispise the Lorde, and walke
in this secure course, or else Jeremiah is deceived. If
they be prophets, and if the word of the Lord be in
their mouths, let them intreat her ]\Lajestie, and you of
this parhament, that the misery of helples Wales, may
at this time of your meeting be considered oif, and
redressed.

Thus I have set downe some part of the wants in
the service of God in Wales, and some part of that

* Ezra 7. 17, 23; Psa. 2. 10; and 101; 2 Chron. 29. 10; and
30. 9; and 34; 27. ex. 20. 10; Gen. 18. 19; 2 Chr. 15. 12; 13.
and 17. 7.

20 A SupiMcation unto the

miserie, wherein my countrie is bewrapped ; and
which you are bound unto the Lord (but by me most
humbly entreated) to redresse. And this is the cause
wherein if you deale not, you betray the honor of God,
betraye his trueth, betraye the rehgion which you pro-
fesse, and betraye her Majestie, and the whole king-
dome, unto the revenging hand of God. For without
controversie, the continuance of our ignorance, and
the defectes of Gods service, w^ill one day, and that
shortly, I feare me, bring the Lord in fearefull and
consuming judgements to take punishment of you,
your wives, children, families and the wliol land :
because in your states and consultation, his honor,
and the blood of mens souls were not regarded. But
this is neyther all the miserie of the inhabitants of
Wales, neyther is this all that the Lorde requii-eth to
be amended by this Parliament, under paine of his
heavie wrath.

In the seconde place then we are to consider, the
corruptions toUerated by the positive lawes of this
land, and countenanced by the authority of this high
court of Parliament, in the service of God within
Wales. AVhereby no small dishonor redoundeth unto
the Majestie of God, and wherein no small part of the
spirituall miserie of that people doth consist. For the
removing of which corruptions, it behoveth the
Parliament, with speede to be very carefull, even
before such time as the Lord calleth the land to an

High Court of Parliament. 21

account, for the wicked constitutions therein main-
tayned. Here therefore I affirme, unlesse without
delay you labour to cleanse the Churche under your
governement in Wales, of all L.Bb. dumbe ministers,
nonresidents, archdeacons, commissaries, and all other
romish officers and offices, there toUerated, and so
tollerated, as by the consent and authoritie of the
Parliament they are mainteyned ; that you are both in
this life and the life to come, likely to be subjecte unto
the intollerable masse of Gods wrath, the execution
whereof is not unlikely to fall upon you and your
houses, unlesse you prevent the fiercenes of the Lordes
indignation.

If Moses by a positive law, should have allowed the
ofFring of strange fire by Nadab and Abihu, tollerated
the ministery of blemished and deformed Levites (Lev.
20. 18-23) ; enacted that one, not being of the line of
Aaron, might presse before the Altar, (Num. 16. 10;
18. 7) to offer the bread of his God: if David had
made it lawfull for Uzzah, to lay his hand upon the
Ai'ke ; if Josiah or any other the godly rulers had,
either given leave to the cursed shepheardes in their
dayes, to place others in their stead, to take the over-
sight of the Sanctuary ? (Ezek. 44. 9.) Or permitted a
consecrated priest to be a civill governour ; briefely
had established any thing in the Churche goverment
prescribed by Moses, contrary to the commandement,
had they not bene in danger of the Lords- wrath ?
They had without controversie.

22 A Su2^plication unto the

And shall you of the high court of Parliament be
dispenced with, being guilty (except you labor to re-
move the dumbe ministery, nonresidence, with the
usurped and Antichristian seats of L. Bb. &c.) of tolle-
ratiug and establishing greater sinnes among your
people in Wales, in steed of the government prescribed
by Jesus Christ % assure your selves no. I do therefore
in this point also, for the discharge of my dutie and
conscience towardes the Lord, liis Church, my countrie,
and the whol estate of this kingdom, taking my life in
my hand testifying unto you, before the Majestic of
God, and before his church, that our dumbe ministers,
that the calhngs of our L. Bb. archdea. commiss. with
al other remnants of the sacriledge brought into the
Chm-che by that Romishe strumpet, and now remain-
ing in AVales, are intoUerable before the Lorde, and
that it is not likely that ever you tollerating these
thinges any longer, shall escape Gods fierie wrath.
The trueth hereof I do briefly make knowne by the
reasons following, and off'er to proove them more at
large, even upon the peril of my life, against our 4.
L. Bb. all their chaplains, retainers, favorers and wel-
willers ; whether in eyther of the two universities of
this lande, or in any place els whatsoever. These
things I offer to proove against M. D. Bridges, who
lately in a large volume, hath undertaken their defence.
In which booke of his, he hath offered her Majestic and
the Parliament most undutifuU injurie, by going about

High Court of Parliament. 23

for the maintenance of his ownc belly, and the belies
of the rest of his coat, to allienat the hears of the
loyallest subjects in the lande, from their most carefiill
prince and governours. As though her Majestic and
this honourable court, ment to turne the edge of the
sword against them, who indeed deserve not to lie
threatned with the scabbord. Into which booke he
hath crammed as plaine poperie for the defence of our
Bb, as ever Harding, Saunders, Turrian, Bellarmine, or
any other the firebrands and ensigne bearers of Eomish
treason against her Majesties crowne, have brought for
the Popes supremacie.* And for as much as he in
that booke, hath both undertaken the defence of those
corruptions, for the toUerating wherof the anger of
God hangeth over the whole land ; and also shewed
himselfe to be Ammonitish Tobiah, against the buylding
of Jerusalem in Wales, by defending the very breaches
and ruins of the Babylonish overthrow, wdiich by the
just judgements of God under poperie we sustained, to
be the perfectest building that Sion can be brought
unto ; and so by this slander wdthstandeth the salva-
tion (which I doubt not) her Majestic and the parlia-
ment wishe unto my country, I have so framed the
reasons following, as they overthrow the very founda-
tion and whole frame of that wicked book and of al

* Compare pag. 448 of D. Bridges his booke with Bellarmine.
cap. 10. li. 5. cont 3. and you shall finde the one to have writen
the vcrie same thing for the Arch, that the other hath for the pope.

24 A Supplication unto the

others, written for the defence of our established Church
government.

Now that our dumbe ministers, nonresidents, L.
bishops, archdea. &c. are nothing els but an encrease of
sinnefull men, (Num. 22. 1 4) risen up in steed of their
fathers the idolatrous Monkes and Fryars, stil to aug-
ment the fierce wrath of God against this land and our
governors : and that this booke of D. Bridges, and
whatsoever els hath bin written for their defence, are
nothing els, but edicts, trayterous against God, and
slanderous to your sacred government, to defend the
sale and exchange of Church goods, and the very
destruction of souls : to speak al in a word, that both
these corruptions and their defences, are condemned
by the Lords own revealed wil, as things directly
against the same, and the lawes of her Majestic, ex-
pressed in his written word ; and therefore not to be
tollerated by your authoritie, uulesse you thinke that
you may tollerate sinne by your lawes ; nor yet once
to be spoken for or countenaunced, unlesse you would
plead for Baal, I proove by these reasons. (Judg.

6. 31.)

That forme of Church governement whiche maketh
our Saviour Christ inferior unto Moses, is an impious,
ungodly, and unlawfull goverment flat contrarye to the
worde, (Heb. 3. 6 ; Nom. 12. 7) and therefore in no
case to be tollerated by any lawes or authoritie, and
the booke or bookes defending the same, are ungodly

Iliglh Court of Parliament. 25

and impious bookes. But our Churclie government in
Wales, by L. bisliops, arclid. dumb ministers, and other
ecclesiastical officers (as for nonresidents, let this one
reason for all serve against them ; they as much as in
them lieth, bereave the people over whome they thrust
themselves, of the onely ordinarie means of salvation,
which is the word preached) is such goverment,
as maketh the Lord of life, Jesus Christ, inferiour to
Moses, and this booke of D. Bridges, with all other
bookes of the like arguments doe the same. Therfore
this government is a government, not to be tollerated
by law in any state, unlesse men woulde feele Gods
heavie judgementes for the same, and therefore also it
is a government most pernicious and dangerous, even
in poUicie unto the civil government where it is esta-
blished, and this booke or books defending the same,
are ungodly, wicked and pernicious bookes, trayterous
against the Majestic of Jesus Christe ; crying for un-
sufferable vengeance upon such as tolerate them.

The proposition is not to be doubted off. For is
that Church government or bookes to be tollerated,
which make Christ Jesus, the sonne of the setcrnall
God, yea God himselfe, inferiour unto Moses? The
assumption is thus prooved. That governement, and
that booke or bookes, whiche holdeth Jesus Christ God
and man, to have prescribed no externall forme of the
government of his Churche ; but such, as at the plea-
sure of the magistrate, when time and place requireth,

E

26 A Supplication unto the

may be altered without sinne ; preferreth Moses before
Jesus Christe. This is manifest out of the expresse
wordes of the text Heb. 3. 2. 6. Because the Lord
Jesus, being the sonne, is in that place compared with
Moses a faithfuU servant in deed, and preferred before
Moses, in regard of the external government, which
Moses had so faythfully prescribed under the law, as it
was not to be chaunged at the pleasure of any magis-
trate, untill the IMessiah should cause the oblations to
cease. (Dan. 9. 27.) For what king was there ever in
Judah, who without the breach of Gods law, could alter
the external regiment of the Jewish Church in the
Levitical priesthood and officers'? (1 Chi-on. 23. 24.)
David, I grant, ordained some things not mentioned in
the bookes of Moses, but that whiche he did, proceeded
from the spirit of God, and he had the worde for his
warrant. The same is to be saide of whatsoever was
done by any other of the godly kings in Judah,

Now^e that the former comparison, Heb. 3. 2. 6.
betweene the sonne and the servant, Christe and
Moses, is concerning the externall regiment of the
church, and not the spiritual government of the inner
man (as D. Bridges affirmeth pag. 51. line 30.) it is
plaine. Because Moses had nothing to do with the
governing of the inner man ; and therefore it were no
prerogative for the Lorde to be preferred in ftiithfulnes
before IMoses, in that dispensation wherein Moses never
dealt. Hence then I assume, that our forme of Church

High Court of Parliament. 27

government in Wales, and this wicked booke, lioldeth
Jesus Christ to have ordained such an externall forme
of government in his Churche, at his departure from
earth to heaven, as at the pleasure of the magistrate,
might be altered without the breach of Gods institution :
which thing D. Bridges affirmeth pag. 55. And all
our prelates grant that this high court of parliament
may lawfully alter the forme of Church governement
now established. Therefore this government, and this
booke, preferreth Moses before Jesus Christ. And I
cannot see how far this differeth from blasphemie.
Now if Chiist should be saide to ordaine no externall
regiment at all, then Moses was far before him, and
the thirst of superioritie in our prelates, and their
accomplisses, is turned into extreame drunkenncs of
impietie by this assertion.

I beseech the Lord in mercy to open your eies that
are of this assemblie, that you may see how he and his
people have been dealt with by retaining such laws in
force, as justle and overthi^ow the roial prerogative of
his sonn. And the Lord make you to see whether
those men, that defend the interest of the sonn of God
in this point against the tiranicall usurpation of Bb.
and have brought for his title unanswerable evidence,
out of the sacred records of Gods owne writings,
offending eyther in matter or circumstance in no one
thing, but that they have not dealt more earnestlie
with your Hh. and more roundly with the adversaries

28 A Supplication unto the

in tlie rioiit of their master ; have deserved to be im-
prisoned, thriiste out of their livinges, reviled, and
railed upon by ungodly and wicked jDrelats unto the
state, as seditious and discontented men with the civil
government, dangerous subjectes and enimies unto her
Majesties cro^^^l. And surely the cause being made
knowne unto you, as nowe it is, how soever the Lord
may beare with your oversight heretofore, in the
ignoraunce of the waight thereof : yet if you doe not,
nowe abrogate such a church government, well may
you hope for the favour and intertainement of Moses,
that is the curse of the lawe : but the favoure and
loving countenance of Jesus Christ,! doe not see how you
shal ever enjoy. To prosecute this point a little farther.
In most humble manner, I Avould know of you that are
of this high court, whether of these 2 pointes following
you would be said to maintain, by the continuance of
the aforesaid callings, and corruptions within Wales ?
For of either of the 2 you must needes be guiltie.
First doe you tliinke you may presume to defend by
your authoritie and lawes, such offices and officers in
the ecclesiastical state, whereby the churche is to be
governed ; that is, such a Church government, as in
your consciences you cannot but acknowledg to be
unlawful before the Lord, and hurtful unto his Church?
Secondly, doe you thinke that any Church government
can be lawfull before yom- God, and profitable unto
his church, which the Lord Jesus Christ himself hath

High Court of Pa^iiament. 29

not prescribed in his word ? The which point whoso-
ever goeth about to defend, he, as before you have
hard, maketh Jesus Christ, who as he is the onely head
of his churche, so he hath the alone jurisdiction to
ordaine the goverment thereof, not to have in the
goverment of his owne house as great a prerogative as
Moses had. I earnestHe intreat you then, tliat as you
would not be accounted, ether to defend and coun-
tenance those things which in your owne consciences
are sinful, or to account such a Church government to
be lawful, as cannot stand with the roiall soverainty,
that Jesus Christ hath in his church : so to see the
spedy abolishing of al dumbe ministers, Lorde Bishops,
Archdeacons, commissaries, chauncellors, &c. out of
the church, under your government in Wales. You
are now intreated to abrogate no other Church
goverment then that, which either in your own
consciences you must acknowledg to be unlawful and
odious iu the sight of God, and therefore without
delay to be removed, or such a regiment the unlawe-
fulnes whereof, if with our Bishops you should go
about to maintaine, then should you rob Jesus Christ
of the prerogative and priveledge wherewith the spii^it
of God hath adorned him. Heb. 3. 6, Because it
hath been shewed, that it was not lawful for any state
or power to ordaine any other forme of government in
the church under the lawe, then that prescribed by
Moses. If then you think our church government by

30 A Supijlication unto the

Lord Bb. Archdeacons, dumb ministers, &c. : in your
consciences to be unlawful, that is; if you think it un-
lawful for a minister to joine the office of a civil
Mafristrate with his ministerie, and to beare rule and
dominion over his bretheren, either as a spiritual or
temporal Lord ; if you think it unlawfull for a Lord
Bishop to beare soveraigne authoritie of al the
mmisters within his diocesse ; and if you think it un-
unlaweful that their ministerie with the execution
thereof, should depend upon his plesure, or disliking ;
if also in your conscience you think it unlawful for
him to take the charge of al the soules within 4. or 5.
shires, and to take the charge of those mens soules,
whose faces for the most part, he wel knoweth he shal
never behold ; if in like manner you think it unlawfull
for an Archdeacon, whose name and office was never
read of in the word, and in his best institution is but
to atend upon the ministers and looke unto the poore
(to have a great number of ministers at his becke and
controlment) or if you think it unlawful in your soules
and consciences, for our dumb ministers, the patrons
of al ignorance and blindenes, to take upon them the
office of the imbassadors of Jesus Christ, to declare his
will unto the people, the best part whereof, they them-
selves never know : then there is no question to be
made, but that either you wil utterly raze the memorie
of this wicked and ungodly generation out of the
Churche of Wales, or openly manifest, unto men and

High Court of Parliament. 31

angels, that you will to tlie contumelious dishonor of your
God, and the undoing of his church, countenance and
maintaine L. Bishops, Archdeacons, dumbe ministers,
with the rest of that ungodly race, whose corruptions
in youre owne consciences you cannot but detest. On
the other side, if you think it lawful for you, to
ordain, what forme of church government you like
best of : and so holde it lawful for to maintaine this
established among us ; then see what wil follow the
diminishinge of the prerogative that Jesus Christ hath
in the government of his church. And that I feare
me wil be this. The Lord will enter into judgement
with you of this parhament, for al the soules that here-
after shal be damned in AVales. Because you make it
lawfull by your authority, for such guides to be over
your people, as cannot possiblie lead, and direct them
in the waies of godlines and salvation. He wil enter
into judgment with you for al the sinnes that shalbe
commited, for want of goverment, which his son Christ
hath ordained as a meanes to keepe men from trans-
gressing against their God. He wdl enter into judg-
ment with you for the monstrous profanation, whereljy
those proude, popelike, and blinde guides, have polluted
his house in the dayes of your government, which you
shoulde have withstood. He wil enter in to judgment
with you for the punishments that are likely to fall
upon them, because you have countenanced, and freely
priveleadged them by lawe, to provoke his wrath in

32 A Supplication unto the

that srevous sort against their OAvn souls. He wil
alsoe (it is to be feared) enter into judgement with the
whol Land, for this your sinne, and make his sword
drunk with the Ijloud of our slain men, yea he wil
give the whole kingdom, high and lowe, into the
handes of the enemie, that is cruel and skilful to
destroy, that all the nations under heaven professing
religion, may feare and take heed, howe they doe not
only denye to be governed by the lawes of his sonne
Jesus Christ, but which is more grievous in stead
thereof, establishe such institutions as are directly
against his majesties revealed will. If those thinges
be not likely to fall uppon us, except the above
mencioned unlawfull callings of Lord Bb. dumbc
ministers, &c. be now at once even in this Parliament
rooted out of the churche in Wales, let not my head
go to the grave in peace. Where are they now, who
usually affirm the intent or motion of removing L.Bb.
dum ministers, ye the whol church goverment established
in Wales, to be a matter odious in the sight of her
Majestic, and dangerous to the state ? Cannot hir
Majesty abide to heare, that Christ Jesus should be
more faythful in his owne house, then Moses was 1 Is
it an odious hearing unto her Majestic, that the
churche in her kinoxlome should be cleansed of al un-
lawful callings and corruptions, and beutified, with the
holy ordinances of her saviour Jesus Christ, even in
her daics; that the same praise might be trulic

Iliijh Court of ParUament. 33

ascribed unto liir, in the adges to come, which the
spirite of God hath yeeled unto King Josiah. (2. Kin.
23. 25.) Like nnto Queene Ehzabeth was there no
Queene before hir, that turned unto the Lord with all
hir hart, with all her soule, and with al hir might,
according to all the lawe of Moses, neither after hir
arose ther any like unto hir. Cannot hir Majestic, I
say, abide these things ? Far be it that any should
perswade them selves she cannot. Then are they un-
dutiful slaunderers of hir highnes, who to terrific the
Parliament from deahng, concerningc the redressc of
the church, usually avouch such purposes, to be al-
together vaine, because hir Majestic will never be
induced to yeeld hir consent unto the removing of
the estabhshed governement of the Church ; neither is
the slaunder any whit lesse undutifull against the
state, Avhen the kinwlome is said to be indano-ered,
except Jesus Christ, should make it lawfull for the
Parliament to tollerate what Church government the
civill state can best away with. And it is a point
wherin you of this Parliament may shew what harts
you beare unto the sinceritie of rehgion. My 2 reason
followeth.

That forme of Church government, and that booke
or bookes, which make the established remment to be
an humaine constitution, that is inclusively according
to the worde (but no otherwise according to the worde
then the civill governement is, whiche also must bee

F

34 A Su]jplication unto the

inclusively according to the same,) (1. Pet. 2. 13 ;
2. Pet. 2. 10.) and so may at tlie pleasure of man bee
altered, as the civill governement may : that govern-
ment and that booke or bookes, (besides that they
prefer Moses before Jesus Christ) is a wicked and
pernicious government, and they ungodly and peste-
lent bookes. (Pag. 55.)

But our Church government in Church causes, and
this booke of D. Bridges with al other books of this
grieste, make the ecclesiasticall government to be
nothing else, but an humane constitution, which may
be lawfully altered, and abolished at the magistrates
pleasure. Therefore our Church government in Wales,
and this booke or bookes, are ungodly and wicked.

The proposition is proved by these resons. First
they are wicked and intoUerable, because they make
no difference between that which belongeth to the
true worship of God, as ecclesiasticall government
doth, and that which apertaineth unto civil pollicie.
Contrarie to the apostle Peter, who affirmeth in expresse
Avordes, that wee have reaceaved by the knowledge of
God, whatsoever belongeth unto true religion, in such
sort as it is unlawful for man to add any thing of his
owne invention thereunto. For soe the worde Eusebeia
translated, godlines, signifieth in that place. Whereas
the worde hath not so furnished us, with whatsoever
belono^eth to the civil magistracie, called mans ordin-
aunce by the same apostle (Pet. 3. 13.), but that

High Court of Parliament. 35

therein those thinges, that have been and are in-
vented by them that never knew God, are warrantable,
and may be inchisively according to the word. Secondly
ecclesiasticall government being granted to be an
human constitution, maketh the Pope to have sufficient
warrant out of the word, not of his Idolatrous and
false religion, but of his superioritie, over all civil
Majestrates and pastors within the ecclesiastical bodie
of the church.* For whie should not the pope, the
civill Majestrate, granting him this superioritie, (as all
they under his jurisdiction doe) be alowed by the
word, to be above the emperor, and all other JMagis-
trates and ministers whatsoever, if the ecclesiasticall
government be an human ordinance? For I am
assured that the emperor, with al other princes in
Europe, may lawfully chuse a Magistrate superior unto
them all, if tliey wil. And why may not this magis-
trate whom they may lawfully chuse (and he lawfully
yeelde unto their choyse) to be the highest and
superiour governor in christendome, to be a bishop, or
an archb. if the Church governement be an humane
ordinaunce, or if it be lawfull for either of them to be
Lordes, and to beare a civill office 1 Before I goe
farther, I am particularly in this poynt, to deale with
such in this parliament, as are our L.Bb. in AVales.
Here therefore in the audience of her R excellent

* If you read D. Bridges, pag. 448, line 3, you shall finde him
not far from avouching tliis point.

36 A Su])plication unto the

Majestie, and this honorable conncel, I proove before
j^ou the B. of Landaff, Davids, Asaph and Bangor, that
the Pope of Rome, whose superioritie all sounde
hearted christians doe acknowledge to be intoUerable
and accursed, hath altogether as good warraunt from
the worde for his ecclesiasticall hierarchic, as yon,
unto whom I now speake, to be L.bishops in Wales.
My reason I conclude after this manner ; and if you
can infringe anye part thereof, I will not refuse anye
death, or other punishment, that shalbe laide upon me.
What Bb. soever they be, that have no other warrant
of their lordly jurisdiction, whereby they exercise
temporal government, as civil magistrates, having still
their ministery upon them, and claime unto them-
selves superiority over their felow brethren, as ministers,
then the ordinance, good will and pleasure of man,
that is, of the state wherein they live ; they have no
better warrant from the word of god, for this their
lordly superiority, then the Pope of Rome hath for his,
who claymeth no other jurisdiction and .superioritie
unto himselfe, over magistrats and ministers, then that
which he hath, by the free consent, good liking, and
authoritye of those states, who voluntarilye submit
themselves unto his idolatrous religion. But you the
Bb. of Landaff, Davids, Bangor, and Assaph in Wales,
have no other warrant to be L.bishops, that is, to
joyne both magistracie and ministerie together, and
claime unto your selves authoritv spirituall (in deed

Iligli Court of Parliament. 37

according to the spirite that ruleth in the ayre, as the
Apostle sayth) over your fellowe ministers, then the
constitutions of man, to witt ; the will and pleasure of
her Majesty and this high court of parliament. Ther-
fore you the said L. bishops, have no other warrant for
your Lordships and superioritie over other ministers,
then the pope hath for his supream authoritie, and
universal! prerogative. As for his crueltie, pride, and
idolatrous profession ; far be it, but I should make
difference betweene you and him. Although every
part of this reason be already prooved ; yet I demand
of you, by what authoritie you are so far, in respect of
temporal things, and the abuse of ecclesiasticall
jurisdiction, jDreferred before many godly and learned
ministers in this land ; as you by vertue of your
places, are Barons of the parliament house, enjoye
great revenews, and are Lordes over your brethren
and fellow ministers^ Your answere will be, I knowe,
that you hold this by sole authoritie of man, and no
otherwise. This must needs be your aunswere. For
ifyouwoulde claime your jurisdiction by any other
title, your bishoppricks would soone be forfeited.
Now I pray you tell me, hath not the pope as good
^varraunt for his hierarchic as this is % For hath not
the Emperor, the king of Spain, the Frenche king,
with other states, now professing poperie, as good
allowance from the w^orde, in regard of the office (as
for the aljuse in the person or religion, that is not the

38 A Su2'>plication unto the

question) to make whom they will the superior B.
within their owne dominions, as her Majestie and the
parliament hath to make one of you to be above al the
ministers in your dioces, or as good warraunt as they
might have to make eyther of you to be Primate and
Metropolitane over the rest; which authoritie you will
not denie unto them as unlawfull, I am sure. Eyther,
therefore, the superiour power of the pope in his
universal bishoppricke, is a lawfull superioritie, or els
your lordships having no better warrant from the
word, then the popedom hath, are unlawfull, and in-
tollerable. And it being unlawfull for the parhament
to tollerate, and countenance (I doe not say the
popishe religion) but his superiority over the ministers
within this land ; it is also as unlawful for them to
toUerat your spirituall jurisdiction over your fellow
brethren. Here then I appeale unto your consciences,
whether you doe not see that the pope hath altogether,
as good allowaunce from the worde, of his Anti-
christian jurisdiction, as you have of your lordly
callings. And againe I appeale unto you, whether
you, who dare not, but holde the popedome of the
B. of Rome to be an unlawfull jurisdiction; do not you
thinke, that the pope (though hee professed the trueth
of religion, as you doe, which in the dayes of the first
bishopps of Eome they also did) were not bounde in
conscience, to give over this universall soveraigntie ?
Or if he coulde not abide to heare, that his place and

High Court of Parliament. 39

office, whiclie hj the positive law, and the good lyking
of the present governement, were authorized, shoulde
nowe be accounted unlawfull in the sight of God ; do
you not thinke that hir Majesty, and this high court of
parhament, notwithstanding the lawes estabhshcd, and
the favour they beare unto his jurisdiction, were
bounde before the Lorde, to abrogate his superioritie,
as unlawfull and intollerable in Gods Church. If you
thus judge of the pope, as I hope you do ! Oh then,
why wil not you execute this sentence against your
selves, whiche you have pronounced against him ? you
beeing no lesse guiltie of tyrannizing over your
brethren, by vertue of your unlawful calling. The
jurisdiction of the pope is unlawful (say you) notwith-
standing all the states in Europe alow him to be
universall bishoj), and it is unlawful notwithstanding
poperie were true religion, and hee a most holy man
who sate in the Eomishe chaire. And you holde it also
unlawfull for the parliament, notwithstanding al the
former exceptions, to tollerate the popish supremacie,
even over the ministers in this land. Why the worde
of God by the same reason, pronounceth your callings
to be unlawful, and denieth it to be possible for them
to be lawfull and toUerable, no though her Majestic
and al the states and parliaments in the world ratified
them to be lawful.

To returne againe unto the whole bodie of this
honourable assemblye. I intreate you in the name of

40 A Supjylicatioii unto the

God to consider, how prejudicial! it wil be for our
posterities to refuse the popes jurisdiction (if ever
motion should be made in parliament, for the reducing
of that man of sinne, as God forbidde there shoulde)
seeing you have not thought it unlawful to retain
their LI. and superiority, who have no better warrant
for their calling then the pope might have for his,
beeing confirmed by the free consent of the state.
I go forward.

Thmlly, if Church government be an humane con-
stitution, then it may be lawfuU for a church governour,
vz. a bishopp, archdeacon, or some other of that order,
to preache, administer the sacramentes, oversee, ex-
communicate, &c. and to be a king. For the holy
Ghoste maketh it lawful, 1. Pet. 2. 13. for any,
supplying the place of an humane constitution, law-
fully to be a king. And I woulde our bishopps
durst denie it ? Where then learne they that divinitie,
that it is more against the word, for a bishop to be
Basilens, a king, Ilyperichon, a superiour, TIegemon,
a captaine or governour, being titles (1. Pet. 2. 13.)
sanctified by the holy Ghoste for civill officers, then
Curios, a Lord, TIy2)erphe7vn, a prelate, Euergetes, a
lords grace. The former and latter, vz. Curios and
Euergetes, being denied by our Saviour Christe (Luk.
22. 25.) unto bishopps or ministers, the 2. vz. Ilyper-
j)heron, never red in the word, for ought that I can
remember. If they saye, that the abuse of Lordlines,

High Court of Parliament. 41

and graceles grace is forbidden by Christe, they have
bene answered, they are aunswered, and let them
replye when they can ; that onr Saviour Christ never
alowed abuse or tyrannic in civill governors, when as
he doth not forbid them to rule as Lordes, or to be
called grace ; and therefore speaketh in this place,
Luk. 22. 25. of the lawful and sanctified use of civil
governement, and titles, which sanctified use being
lawful in the civil magistrates, he denieth to be lawful
in his ministers. He denieth, I saye, the use both of
the name and title of the magistracie, and also of the
office unto his ministers. Because it were palpaljle
absurd, to tliinke that the Lord in deed forljiddeth
his ministers to beare the name and title of the
magistrats, whereas he granteth them the office and
dignitie, whereunto that name or title may be lawfully
joyned in the civil magistrate. Here I knowe that
the example of Ely the high priestes civill government,
will be brought in for the confirmation of the civil
authoritie of our bishops, whereunto I wil make no
other answer at this time, but that I hope that our
bishops do not thinke, that we under her Majesties
raign and peaceable government, are brought to that
cxigencie, which the prophet threatneth should come
upon the people of Judah (Isa. 3. 6) : namely, that we
shoulde take holde of some bishop, and saye, thou shalt
be our governour, because we meane that our fall and
overthrow shalbe under thine hand. For when Ely

G

42 A Supplication unto the

joyned the civil goverment of the Jewes with his
priesthood, then the philistims gave the Jewes a
shameful overthrow, aod tooke away the Arke of God.
So that unlesse we holde it lawful for us to seeke such
meanes, as wherby we shal be sure to fal before our
enemies, and to be bereaved of the Arke of God ; I see
not why the example of Ely (who to make the best of
it, sheweth some extraordinarye thing proper unto
Ely, and not to bee drawen into example by others)
should make it lawful for ministers to beare civil
offices. For in deed it sheweth nothing els for our
instruction, but that a readie way to bring a final
destruction upon the land, is, for the parliament to
give our ministers leave to joyn the magistracie and
the ministery together. And here it woulde be
knowne, whether they (whoe in their bookes have
whotly and egerly pursued this example of Ely, to
defend the civill jurisdiction of ministers) have not
therein some secret meaning, if opportunitie woulde
serve, to aspire unto the crowne. For they may be
suspected to hope, if ever an interregium should fall
(as I trust in God it shall never be in their dayes)
that the estate would think it most convenient, to
commit the soveraigntie unto som conscionable Church-
man, untill it may be otherwise disposed oft'. And
therefore it may be justly suspected, that in disputing
from the example of Ely, they had one eye unto this
wherof I speak. For they may proovc far better ])y

Iligli Court of Parliament. 43

the example of Ely, wlio was the cliiefe magistrate in
his dayes, that a minister may joyne a whol kingdom e
nnto his ministerie, rather then any other inferiour
office.

To conclude this point. Seeing, First to make that
which belongeth to the outwarde worship of God, to
have no more ground out of the worde, then that
which appertaineth unto the civil magistracie. Secondly,
to allowe of the popes superioritie as lawful. And
thirdly, to holde that a minister may be both a king
and a minister, are wicked and absurd assertions, and
as we see directly against the word. Therefore it is
wicked in hke maner, to make the ecclesiastical gover-
ment to be an humane constitution : and not unlikely
by little and little, to pave the way for the under-
mining of the civil governement; as the reasons which
our Bb. do bring for the maintenaunce of their
superioritie, and experience under poperie do give us
just cause to suspect. For why may not a forged
donation of Constantine, or Lodovicus pins, in time
joyne the crowne of England, to the sea of Davids or
Bangor es23ecially ; whiche from Joseph of Aramathea,
can be prooved to have a little better continuance of
personal! succession, then Eome can from Peter ; as
well, as it joyned the kingdome of Sicilia, the Duke-
dome of Naples, the Ilandes, Corsica, Sardinia, &c :
unto the popes Miter.

The thirde reason is thus framed, and I will be

44 A Su2:)plication unto the

brief e. That forme of Church governement, and that
booke or bookes, which teacheth, that there is some-
thino; to be observed, besides that, which was included
in the commission given by our saviour Christ unto
his Apostles (Math. 28. 19) wherin they were enjoyned
to teache men, to observe wdiatsoever he commanded,
is a governement execrable and accursed by the spirite
of God in plaine wordes, Gal. 1. 9. : and so are the
bookes. And being such, far be it, that eyther the
goverment, or the books shoulde be maintained by the
authoritie of this high court of parliament. Such a
curse being pronounced against the maintaining of
execrable things, as we finde Deuter. 7. 15, But our
forme of church governement in Wales, and this booke
with many others, pubHshed by authoritie teache the
same. For where is it included, muchlesse prescribed
in the word, that our Saviour Christ abolished an out-
ward government of the Church in the Levitical
pollicy, being in no sort an humane ordinance, but
altogether prescribed by the lord himselfe, to the end,
that under the Gospel there should be no governement
of the Church but an humane ordinance, that might
lawfully be changed at the pleasure of man? Or
where is it revealed, that the Apostles gave the civill
magistrate, when any should be in the Churche ; the
commission to abolishe the Presbyteiy by them
established ; because there was no christian magistrate
in the Churche, as our adversaries themselves confesse :

High Court of Parliament. 45

but as the worde sayth,* established by the Lorde ;
and therefore not to be abrogated by the magistrate,
untill his pleasure in that poynte be farther knowne :
therefore this government, and this book or books, are
execrable and accursed.

Lastly, that forme of Church governement, and that
booke or books, which affirme the kingdom of Christe
in the outwarde governement, to be a kingdome that
cann be shaken, that is, altered, or remooved as the
ceremoniall governement was : affii^me that, which is
contrarye to the expresse written word of God. Heb.
12. 28. and therfore are not to be tollerated. But our
Church government in AVales by L.Bb. archdea. dumb
ministers, commiss. &c, in their making of ministers,
excommunication, &c : is such, and suche is this un-
learned heape and sophisticall booke, with the rest
written on this argument. And therefore both the
booke or bookes, affirme things contrarie to the worde,
and so are not be tollerated, unlesse we would have
the Lorde to bring speedie shame and confusion ujDpon
us, for mayntaining sinne by lawe.

The proposition is apparant. Because that by the
word kingdome that cannot be shaken in the afoersaid
place (Heb. 12. 28.) must needs be ment perticularly
(whatsoever signification els thei have as more generall)
the outward government estabhshed under the Gospel,

* 1 Cor. 13. 5. 11; Ephe. 4. 4; Rom. 12. 6; 1 Pet. 4. 10;
Math. 21. 25.

4kfy

46 A Supplication unto the

since the abolisliing of the ceremoniall lawe, which
being compared, in regard of continuance, and removing
or doing awaie with Moses his government, (is saide to
be a kingdome ihat cannot be shaken) that is, such as
the Lorde never meaneth to alter again unto the
worlds end : as to have any other government placed
in stead thereof by him self e, much lesse by man,
whereas that under Moses is affirmed by the prophet
Haggaie (2. 7.), and heare by the apostle, to be a
kingdom or government that could be shaken, that is,
altered. And this is the proper meaning of the place,
Heb. 12. 28. For by the kingdome that cannot be
shaken, must needes be meant, either the assurance of
salvation, which we have under the Gospel, or our
injoying and professing of externall life, or else the
outwarde governement, not only in the preaching of
the word, and administration of the sacraments, but in
the Church officers, the manner of their choise and
their subjects, wherin they are to be occupied. But
as concerning assurance of salvation in this life, and
the profession of eternal life in heaven, which the
fathers enjoyed under the lawe, it was no more to be
shaken then ours, the meanes thereunto by the word
preached, they want no more then we doe. And so in
these respectes they had a kingdome that could no
more be shaken then ours. It remaineth therefore,
that theirs was to be shaken, in regarde to their
outward government which was abolished by the

High Court of Parliament. 47

comming of Christ. And therefore ours immooveable
in this respect, until his second comming, which were
senslesse to be affirmed if Christ in his kingdome,
whereunto we are subject, had instituted no externall
regiment of his Churche. Can that be unmooveable
which is not at all ? More senseles it were to think,
this kingdom to be immutual in regard of the sacra-
ments, and not of the persons, and officers, who are to
deale with those misteries.

To come againe unto you of this honourable court of
Parliament, you are not to learne, that to defend, by
la we, or to countenance by authoritie, the breach of
gods ordinance is the defence of sin, and that the
defence of sinne, is the hatred of God, who rewardeth
them to their fiices that hate him, Deut. 7. 10. and
therefore also you are not to be taught, what horrible
sinnes you shall commit, if hereafter you stil maintaine
such plain and manifest impieties (Numb. 26. 9.)
They are no trifles as you see. For I assure you, that
Dathan and Abiram the sonnes of Eliab, men famous
in the congregation had more colour of right, to claime
unto themselves either the civill governement from
Moses, or the priesthood from Aharon. Because they
were the sonnes of Eeuben the first borne, (unto whose
lotte, had he not defiled his fathers bedd (Gen. 49. 4.),
by all likelihood, either the scepter or the priesthood
should have faUen) then these usurpers have to claim
the places they are in, whereunto either by right of

48 A Suioylication imto the

inheritance according to the flesh, or ordinaunce from
God, they came by no title.

Here it must needes followe (you of this honorable
assemblie having regarde unto the estate of your soules
and bodies before the Lord, and your good names
among posterities) that if these things set downe be
true (if not bring uppon me deserved shame and
punishment) you wil either labor to redres the miser-
able estate of distressed wales, by erecting there a
godly ministerie, and abolishing all Cananitishe relikes,
or for the defence of a fewe unconscionable and god-
lesse men, adventure to undergoe the fierie and flaming
execution, of the burning decree of Gods wrath : JNIy
Lords, and you the rest of this assemblie, be not
deceived, the Lord of heaven is angrie with you and
his whole hoast for the Babilonish garments of these
Achanes. (Joh. 7. 9. 2L) Retayne them no longer if
you would not fall before the enemie. AVhen the L.
shall plead with you, your wives, children, family, and
the whole land, with pestilence or with blood, (Ezek.
38. 22) as he is likely to do for these wedges of exe-
crable golde, it is not the pontificall Lordships of
Bishops, at whose commaundement the Lords sword
wil returne again into his sheath, when your gasping
soules shal cry for mercy at the Lords hand ; it is not
the proud and popelike Lordshij^ps of Bishopps, their
usurped jurisdictions, their profane excommunications,
their pitiles murthering of soules, their railinge slaun-

Higli Court of Parliament. 49

ders against Gods truth and his servants, their impious
brething of the holy Ghost upon their Idol priestes,
that wil drive the Lord to give you any comfort. Let
me therfore (thogh my person be base) entreat you,
that the judgements of God against sin, both in this
life, and in that other of eternal wo and misery may
apeare so terible in your eies, and of that undoubted
consequence, as you wil no longer retain under your
government those things, whose continuance do give
the Lord just cause in this life to pronounce this sen-
tence by the mouth of Jeremie against everie on of
you, (Jere. 22. 29) that wil not promote this sute, and
execute the same. 0 earth, earth, earth, here the
wordes of Jehovah, write these men destitute of child-
ren, men that shall not prosper in their dayes, yea
there shal not bee a man of their seed that shall
prosper, and bee a parliament man, or beare rule in
England any more. And in the life to come to say
moreover : These mine enemies that would not have
me to beare rule (Luk. 19. 27.), by mine owne lawes
over them and their people, bring hither and slay
before my face, yea bind them hand and foote, and
throw them to utter darknes, there is weeping and
gnashing of teth. And let me, craving upon my
knees, with all submission and earnestnes, and more
earnest if it were possible to obtane, that my country-
men by your meanes may have the word preached,
even the meanes whereby they may live for ever, with

H

50 A Supplication unto the

Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdome of heaven.
Graunt them this, my Lordes, though I dye for it.
And this the Lord knoweth is the only scope of my
writing, and not the discrediting or galHng of our
Lorde Bb. Let not their pkices withstand the salva-
tion of my brethren, and the true service of God
among them, and if ever I either write or speake more
against them, any further then their places are like to
be the ruine of hir Majestic and the whole state, let it
cost me my life. Here me in this sute, good my LI.
The reward thereof your soules shall find ; otherwise
I am likelie to become a w^earisom and an importunate
sutor unto this high assemblye. The cause is so juste,
that if it were, as sometimes it was, by the apostle him
selfe decided in the Athenianes Areopago, a court for
heathen justice of famous and celebrated memory, I
doubt not but it should be hard. And shal it not
have justice in the christian parliament of England '?
Justice, my Lords, I say ; for I seeke nothing else, but
that the statutes of the God of judgment and justice
may be made known in my country, wher now they
are unhard of. Then the which I know not what can
be more just ; neither can I see what justice in truth
can be administred by them that neglect this cause.
Trulie for mine owne parte, God aiding me, I wil
never leave the suite ; though there shoulde bee a
thousand parhaments in my dayes, untill I either
obtaine it at your handes, or bring the Lord in venge-

High Court of Parliament. 51

ance and bloiicl to plead against you, for repelling his
cause. I hope it wil not be liere said, that the parlia-
ment can doe nothing in the matter, because hytherto
all Churche causes have bin referred unto the convoca-
tion house and the leaders thereof, namelie to our
Bishops. And doe you meane it shalbe so still?
Then shall you still maintain these horrible profana-
tions of Gods sanctuarie, whereof I have spoken. Then
may it be said unto your shame, that Sion lying uppon
the ground, and mourning like a widow, stretched out
her handes unto the parliament of England, but could
find no comfort. Then may you stil be said to betray
Gods truth, to betray the salvation of his people, yea
and to betray the liberties of this parliament. For
what assembly is there in the land, that dare chaleng
unto it selfe the ordering of religion, if the parliament
may not? AVlien you say, then, that you may not
deale in the matters of religion, because the determina-
tions of that cause is referred unto the Bishops
assembled in the convocation house, who in their
Cannons, are to provide and see that the church be
not in a decaied state, do you not thereby thinke you
rob your selves of your owne prerogative and liberties,
and take order that the church without controversie
may be starved and spoiled 1

In deed if the convocation house were such as it
ought to be, vz. a sinod of sincere, and godly learned
ministers, wherein matters of relligion were determined

52 A Supplication unto the

of according to the worde, and tlie cause of God heard
with out partiallitie, then in deed were it their partes
to set downe for the direction of the parliament, such
thinges as were behoofull for the glorie of God, and
the good of his church, and the parliament by their
direction according to the word, ought to enjoine all
the ministers and people, whatsoever should be thus
enacted by the civil state. And if the convocation
house were such an assembly, then were it not laweful
for the parliament, to establish any thing in the
matters apertaininge unto the pure w^orship of God,
among their people, but that wherein they shoulde be
directed, by the advise of the churche governours.
For as in a christian common wealth, where the civill
state sincerely favoureth the true worship of the Lord,
it is not toUerable, no not for the right and lawful,
muclilesse (say the usurping tiranical governors of
the church) establish any thing in the church, but by
the authoritie of the christian magistrat : so wher
there are godly, wise and sincere ministers, it is un-
lawfuU for the civill governour, to order any thing in
the church within his dominions, but by their direction
according to the word. So that I doe not denie, but
that the convocation house being an assembly of true
and lawful church officers, you ought to use their
advise and direction how the wants of the church
might be supplied. But you shoulde not permit them
to enact what they would l)y their owne authoritie,

High Coui't of Parliament. 53

especially their decrees being now as tlicy are, to the
ratifying of corruptions, and to the continuance of un-
godly callings within these dominions. And if you
mean to give over your right in dealing with the case
of God unto the convocation house, to what end shall
the states of the land meete together in parliament, be
ever againe sued unto.

But, alasse! that any thing in church causes, shalbe
referred unto that assemblie, which would not stand as
it doth, if there weare that good order in the church
which the Lord requireth, and as long as it doeth
stand, must needs be the cause of all disorders therein,
and must needs be a meanes of continuing that
starving ignoraunce which raigneth in this land. AVhy
my Lords, to referre the cause of religion unto the
Convocation house, is nothing els, but to charge the
wolves under paine of the displeasure of careful shep-
herds, to see that the lambes may be fedd, besides the
injurious derogation that thereby is offered unto the
liberties of this house.

And that it may appear how justly I apeal from
that sinagogue, unto this high court of parliament, and
what small hope there is to be conceived of reforming
the abuses of our Church, if the redresse be committed
unto that meeting ; you of the honorable court of
parliament are to understand, that the convocation
house condemneth this cause of Clirist now in hand,
before it be hard : and that their onely cndcvours who

54 A Sup])lication unto the

are there mett, is howe to prevent liim from bearing
rule in the Church by his owne lawes. For it is well
knowne, that all of them have banded and linked them
selves together, to maintaine the corruptions of our
Church, whereof I have before spoken ; as the ungodly
and popish hierarchic of bishops, the ignorant ministery,
&c. Which thing shal be manifested by the considera-
tion of the persones, who are admitted unto the con-
sultation and meeting. And they are of 2. sorts.
First, these whoe by reason of the superiority they
usurp over their brethren, must needs be the chief
doers in that house, how ignorant, unconscionable, and
unfit for the government of the Church soever they be.
Of which number, are our Archbb. and L.bishops, &c.
The second sort is of these, who having no interest to
be there, in respect of anye superioritie they beare in
the Churche, are therefore elected and chosen to be
there as the clarks of the Convocation house, &c. But
there is such freedome and liberty in the choyse of
these men, that great care and heede is alwayes had 1:>y
our L.Bb. that none shalbe chosen thither, but such, as
for o;ood causes are knowen to bee utter enemies unto
all sinceritie, and strong maintainers of the established
corruptions : if any other by some meanes be gotten
thither, who doth but once mention the healing of the
wounds of our Church, he is straightwaies taken for a
Nicodemus among them ; namely, for a man favoring
that side, which none of the great Scribes and Pharises

High Couii of Parliament 55

can brook, and lightly they take that order with him,
which the Jewes tooke with those, who professed our
Saviour Christ ; that is, they bannish him out of their
Synagogue. To be briefe, whosoever are of the house
there is nothing done there, but what the former sort ;
to wit, L.archb. and Bb. would have enacted. For the
rest, eyther cannot or wil not withstand their proceed-
ings. The w^hole sway then, and direction of this
synod, being in their hands, w^ho are for the most part,
the greatest cause of the teares of our Church ; will
you referre the ordering of religion, and the reformation
of the church unto the Convocation house ? I have
alreadye shewed, that you ought to be so far from
permitting unto L.Bb. the disposition of any thing
behofuU unto the Church of God, as the very names
and places should be razed from under your govern-
ment. And w^ofull experience these 30. full yeares,
hath taught us what a lamentable reformation these
men now bring to passe, if they may have their owne
wils. Why these men, my Lords, and consequently,
the whole Convocation house are in judgement con-
trarye unto our Saviour Christ ; (Luk. 22. 25.) for
they holde it lawfuU for ministers to be Lordes over
their brethren. These men, my LL, are of judgement,
that the exhortation of the Apostle Peter was not
directed unto them ? The Elders which are amonof
you, sayth the Apostle, I beseech, which am also an
Elder, and a witnes of the sufferinojs of Christ, and

56 A Supplication 2into the

also a pertaker of the glorye that shalbe revealed,
Feede the flocke of God which dependeth uppon you,
caring for it, not by constraint, but wdllingly ; not for
filthy Inkers sake, but of a readie minde : not as though
ye were Lords over Gods heritage, but that ye may be
ensamples to the flocke ; and when the chiefe shepheard
shall appeare, you shall receive an incorruptible crowne
of glory. These men I say, are in judgement, con-
trary unto this blessed Apostle, for they thinke it law-
ful for them to be Lords over Gods heritage. They
are of judgment, that Christ Jesus was not so faythfull
as Moses, in the goverment of his owne house. And
do you then thinke that they care how unfaythfuU
they doe behave themselves in the oversight of the
Church ? They hold the government of the Church to
be an humane ordinaunce, and so holde the Pope to
have sufficient warrant of his hierarchic. They, my LI.,
hold the kingdome of Christe in the outward govern-
ment, to be a kingdome, the lawes whereof, may be
chaunged and abrogated, at the pleasure of man.
They do not stick to affirme it lawful for them to
teach many thinges not included in the commission
given by our saviour Christ unto his Apostles. These
men reject as untrue, that which the spirite of God
hath set downe by the Apostle Paule, 1. Cor. 1. 21.
Eom. 10. 14. which is, that men are ordinarilye saved
by the preaching of the word. For they are per-
swaded that salvation may be ordinarily attayned unto

Hiyli Court of Pcu'Viament. 57

by reading ; and so they are pers waded, that the
Lorde hath promised his spirit to seale that doctrin in
the hearts of men (Ephes. 1. 13.), which through
preaching was never made knowen unto them. AVhat
care then will they have, to see the people provided
for of preching, wheras they are not perswaded of the
ordinary neccssitie thereof? They, my LI,, maintaine
the continuance of the dumb and ignorant ministery,
whereby our Church hath long since gotten her bane.
Their judgement is, that they may be tollerated for
lawful ministers, in a christian common welth, and that
the parliament may securely maintain them in our
Churche, without all feare of Gods judgementes for
tollerating them ! 0 the great hand of God in punnish-
ing our ingratitude, that in this cleare light of the
gospell, they who take upon them to be Archseers,
willingly see not, that none can be lawfuU embassadors
of Jesus Christ, but they out of whose mouthes this
embassage is heard ; We beseech you in Christs steed,
that you he reconciled unto God (3. Cor. 5.) : And yet
such is the blindnes of the convocation house, that
they cannot see this.

But I blush to thinke, that they dare once presume
to give any countenance unto nonresidencie, that gastly
and fearfuU sinne : and yet behold notwithstanding,
they are not onely all of them guiltie thereof them-
selves, but even in the books which they have pub-
lished unto the world, in the defence of their corrup-

I

58 A Suiyplication unto the

tions, they lia\e not bene ashamed to ad vouch the
lawfulnes of this nnnaturall and desperat murther :
yea the verye pulpits have rung again and againe, with
invectives against al those that withstood this their
madnes. 0, my LL and you the rest of the R. honour-
able and worshipful of this high court of parliament, I
can not stay my selfe, but I must needes in this place,
crie unto you for helpe and justice, against these un-
naturall men. The Convocation house, my LL, de-
fendeth nonresidencie to be lawfuU ! Nonresidencie,
my LI, is defended to bee lawfuU in the Convocation
house ! And will you then trust them with the over-
sight of the people, who are of judgment, that they
may laAvfully starve and murther them 1 Can you
hope for any good to come unto the church of God
from that councel, where it is enacted, that it may be
lawfuU for a bond of murthering nonresidents to de-
stroy the same 1 If th erf ore in the parliament of Eng-
lande, there be any care of the glory e of God, and the
libertie of his Church ; if any pitie and compassion of
the starved soules of men, let others bee trusted to
provide foode for your people, and not those, whose
very judgements are so darkened, that they hold it
allowable by the worde for them to take order that
men may not be fedd. It is now meet, my LL, that
they who holde it lawfull for men to make a trade of
murther, should be allowed for physicions. And what
els are they, who defende the lawfulnes of nonresi-

High Court of Pmiiament. 59

clencie, but siiche as professe it lawfull for men to bee
maintaynecl (ratlier tlien they slioulde want living)
even by tlie murthering of tlieii- brethren 1

Is it not great pitie then, but that this Convocation
house should be stil countenanced by the state, to be
the only place whence reformation of all the things out
of order in our Church should be expected 1 For
therein doubtles, any thing shal be heard, which may
tende to the furtherance of the gospell ; seeing none
sound (few excepted) are admitted into that assembly,
who are not guiltie of the merciles and cruell murther
of soules, as beeing all of them for the most part,
cursed and bloody nonresidents. And is it not great
pitie, but that the parliament should staye and go no
further in the reformation of religion, then it should
bee directed by the Convocation house. For it may be
hoped, out of question, that the Convocation house
will see, that no calling be henceforth toUerated in the
ministerie, but such as the Lord in his worde war-
ranteth to be lawfull. And therefore it may bee hoped,
that the leaders thereof will not sticke to put downe
Archbishops, and L.Bb. that Christ alone, by the
officers which he in his word hath appointed may rule
in his church. They will not abide that anye blemished
and maymed Levit should come neere to the Lords
Sanctuarie, nor any pharasaicall high priest shoulde
usurpe anye authoritie over his brethren in this lande.
If this hope might be conceived of them, then in deed

GO A Sup'plication unto the

woulde they bee meete to cure the diseases of our
church. But the truth is, that there is no reasou why
this should be expected at their hands, because they
are so far (as this whole land knoweth) from having
anye remorse of the unlawful! and ungodly callings
wherein they nowe remaine, that their practises against
God and his trueth, doe proclaime unto the worlde,
that they never meane to restore againe her owne
authoritie unto the Churche, whereof by their Lord-
ships it hath bene spoyled.

I have determined with my selfe, not to trouble this
honorable assemblie at this time, wdth any large dis-
course concerning these men and their dealings :
otherwise, I would shew by evident profs, that they
(and so the whole Convocation house) are guiltic of
such crimes, as the favorablest interpreter of their pro-
ceedings, woulde of necessitie be drawne to give this
sentence against them, namely ; That they are in-
toUerable oppugners of Gods glory, and utter enemies
unto the liberties of his Church. And they should
also be drawne to confcsse, that the parliament in
maintayning the Convocation house, did maintayn and
defend, together with the hindering and smoothering
of the trueth, not only the deformed mines ; but also
the lamentable oppression of the Church. So that it
should appeare, that as long as that house standeth,
as at this day it doth, there could be no hope at all,
that either Gods heavenly trueth sliould have free

nigh Court of Parliament. 61

passage, or the Cliurche lier lybertie in this kingdome.
The briefe heades of the pubHke crimes, whereof the
leaders of the Convocation house are guiltie, I will here
set downe, and they slialbe hereafter evidently j)rooved,
if they unto whose charge they are laid dare deny
them.

First, therefore, their very callings and places, that
is, the callings and places of our Archbishops and L.Bb.
are such as they cannot possibly but dishonour God,
and bereave the Church of her libertie by continuing
in them. Secondly their practises in those places, for
the maintenaunce of their tyrannicall superioritie, and
others the corruptions of the Church, which they wil-
fully, contrary unto all trueth and aaquitie, doe main-
taine, are such as by them they have not onely
monstrously maymed the outward face of the church,
in the matter of governement and ceremonies, but
also grievously wounded the same, in the matters of
doctrine and sacramentes : unto the mayntenance of
all which corruptions in the government of the Churche,
in the ceremonies, in the doctrin and sacraments, they
have joyned the crimes of seducing and deceiving the
civill state and people, by bearing all estates in hand,
that al hath bene and is well in the Church ; and in
like manner, as much as in them lay, they have vexed
and persecuted as many of the deare servants of God,
as have but entended to motion the redressc of any of
the former corruptions. Hereof if I shall not be able

G2 A Sujyplication unto the

to proove the eyes and leaders of this synagogue, and
consequently the whol house to bee guiltie ; let niee, to
the terror of all slaunderers, be put to all the torments
that may bee invented. The Convocation house cannot
here object, that I deal injuriously with the whol
assembly, by laying unto the charge of the whol, those
crimes whereof our Bb. alone are guiltie. For the
whole house, never as yet, disavowed the hierarcliie of
Bb., their practises in urging subscription, in maiutayn-
ing the dumbe ministerie, nonresidencie, &c. And
untill the corruptions of the Bb. be overthrown in that
assembly, the whol house shall be still justly subject
unto the former accusations.

See now, my Lords, whether they doe not bewray
their impietie who think, that men weary them selves
about small matters, when they call for a reformation
of the church. And see whether there be not many
and urgent causes, to inforce the parliament to take
the government of the Church out of the hands of
these men, unlesse the continuance of the ruinous
breaches of our Church would be stil maintained. It is
not the matter of capp, surplice, tippet, and other
beggerlie and popish ceremonies, whence al the dissen-
tion and dissagreement in our church is sprong up.
But the controversies arise, because our Archbb. and
Bb. are not permitted with the silence and consent of
the servants of God, to smother, persecute, deprave
and corrupt the truth of that true religion wliich in

High Court of Parliament. 63

name they professe, and to undermine and captivate
the church of God in this land. Those who withstand
their ungodly procedings, have hitherto dutifully kept
them selves within the bonds of the calings wherin the
Lord hath placed them ; they have in al submission and
duty entreated that the cause of God might be equally
hard, and that her Majestic and the parlament would
amend the things proved to be amis, they have never
as yet, presumed themselves, to take in hand the cor-
rection of any thing. But how quietly on the other
side, have the leaders of the convocation house behaved
them selves, when a redres hath bin caled for at the
hands of the civil state ? Surely they have alwais
hitherto presently betaken themselves, to imprison-
ments and bonds and would never suffer the truth to
have the heririg, nor any man with quietnes to stand
in the defence therof. And therefore also, al the
tumults that hereafer are like to arise in the Church of
God within this land, about these controversies, the
leders of the convocation house, are the causes thereof,
for they wil not yeeld unto the truth, but labour by all
meanes possible, to smother the same. Gods servants
cannot winke at their procedings, unlesse they would
betray Gods truth, and the Hbertie of his church. The
least parte of the sinnes of our Bb. hath bin in the
maintenance of unprofitable, superstitious, and corrupt
ceremonies. If they would but yeeld free passage
unto the truth, and hir authority unto the church in

64 A Supplication unto the

other matters, they should not be gretly molested for
these things. And woe be unto them, if they had
rather provoke god and his church to battel against
them for the defence of the truth, then receive the
light, and grant peace unto the church. Concerning
her Majestic, who (as it is thought) can never be
induced to aulter the established government, I an-
swere, that if it be made known unto her, and proved
out of the word that the established regiment of the
church is traiterous against the ]\Iajestie of Jesus
Christ, that it confirmeth the popes supremacie. 0
therfore it is dangerous unto her crown, that it is
besides the commission given by our Saviour Christ
unto his apostles ; and therefore accursed, that it
sheweth them to be void of all care of religion, who
wittingly countenance the same, and that it calleth for
the judgments of God against her, and her kingdom,
and then if shee yeeld not unto the razmg of all sinful
callings out of the church, I will not desire to live, if
this be thought a matter worthy of death, for a man to
be dutyfully perswaded of his soveraigne. Be it that
her Majestic hath bin moved, by some of this house,
for the redresse of the church, you should move her
againe, and againe, and never leave until you be heard.
Great matters are never brought to passe, without
great and mighty endevours. Our sinnes have other-
wise deserved, then, that the Lord should at the first
encline mercy unto us, in the sight of her highnes.

High Court of Parliament. 65

Would any of you alter any part of the government of
his family, being perswaded by lend flatterers, that all
were well, unlesse the abuse were shewed, and you
earnestly dealt with for a reformation. And can you
then marvel, that our soveraigne is hardly drawne to
reforme the church, whose estate in her hearing, is
daily said out of the pulpit to be most florishing,
wheras the deformity therof is not made knowne unto
her. I know it is no smal persuasion that should drive
a monarch to abrogat the receved constitutions, and
establish new, unles the unanswerable necessity thereof
were made knowne unto her or him. I am perswaded
that her Majestic knoweth not the exacting necessitie
that lieth uppon her sholdcrs of reforming the church.
Shee knoweth not the estate of her untauo-ht and
damned subjects to be as it is. Wherefore serve
parliament men, if her eies must be in al places to see
every thing,, and what doe you see, if you do not see
our miserie and lament it ? I grant indeed, that of this
point she ought to be most careful, but if of oversight,
the waightiest matters be omitted, shoulde not you put
her in mind hereof'? And in submission entreat her,
and never leave entreating, untill shee yeeld to turnc
away the wrath of God from her and her kingdome, by
abollishing ungodly ordinances, and restoring beauty
unto Zion.

Well, I have forged the most notable slanders that
ever were coined, or els, the state of my cuntrey under

K

66 A Supplication unto the

her Majesties government is very miserable, and yours
no lesse lamentable, if it so continue. And if you
make not the same knowne unto her Majestie, and see
it be speedely amended, the Lord make Queue Eliza-
beth, and her crown free, from the blonde of her
destroyed people. And I pray God if it be his will,
that their soules be not required at your hands in the
day wherein quick and dead shalbe judged.

But it may be, that you wil pretend the wante to be
so difficult that it cannot possiblie be performed. Do
what lieth in you, and then the Lord is answered.
The farther you go herein, the esier wilbe the passage,
you are desired no more, then not to countenance sinn,
and for reformation to go no farther then meanes will
reach. Because it is a worke of difficultie, therefore
must you needs hinder the same by lawe as you doe,
by tollerating these abuses ; Because the whol worke
is difficult, therefore shal it not begin ; Because it is a
hard matter to plant the ordinance of God, therefore
must the breache thereof be in force, and maintained 1
Because in Canaan the sonnes of Anak (Num. 13. 14.),
and towns walled up to heaven (mountains of pre-
tensed excuses, have ben scene) therefore must you
needs suffer the people, brought by her Majestie and
you, out of Egipt, to remaine stil in the wildernes, on
this side Jordan, even under these men, the dumb
ministers, L.Bb. I meane, which are fit for nothing els,
then to be leaders, whensoever oportunitie shall serve,

High Court of Pm^iiament. Q^

to bring the people again into Egipt ? (Num. 14. 4.)
Because our land, by reason of our continuance in
sinn, and that wee have not had skilful workmen
among us, doth not now bring forth religion and god-
linesse in the measure it should, therefore must you
needs be sure, that profanesse and atheisme shalbe
sowen, and the breach of Gods lawe flourish there, in
the persons of those men ? (Ezek. 23.) Therefore the
just Lord wil be just in the midst of you, whensoever
he reckoneth for these things, because you are so far
from doing what you may in the planting of godlinesse,
that you suffer impietie against his Majestic to bear
sway, and that by law and authority.

Concerning the hardnesse of the work, this I make
knowne unto you, that if you wilbe ruled by the
cannon of the word, you shalbe able with ease and the
good liking of your people, to do so much therein, as
you shal deliver your owne lives from the wrath of
God. But if that rule shal take place no farther, then
it may stand with the continuance of Lord Bishops,
and other corruptions of the ecclesiasticall state, I see
not what you can say unto the Lord, when he hath
made you an astonishment, and an hissing unto all the
nations under heaven : but surely thou art just in all
that is come upon us, for wee would not be ruled by
thy words (Nehe. 9. 39.)

AYel, the word teacheth and requireth of you 2.
things and no more, in this worke. In both it re-

68 A Stqyplication unto the

quireth your practise, if you would be directed by it.
First it requiretli, that Wales may be redressed by
proclaiming that commission given by our Saviour
Christ unto his apostles, Math. 28. 19. 20., in every
corner thereof, and both the parts of the commission,
it requireth to be kept inviolably ; as well that, of goe
preach and baptise, as the other, of teach them to
observe, whatsoever I have commanded you. Secondly,
w^hile you stay the Lords leasure to raise up fit men
for this worke in every congregation, it requireth, that
the people where preachers cannot be placed at the first,
may have som stay, that inconveniences be avoided.
For the Lord will not have religion, so undiscretly
established, as that the inconveniences that might
growe thereby unto the civil state, as much as may be,
be not wisely prevented ; in the effectinge hereof, 2.
thino-s are to be looked unto, both of them greatlie
furthering the worke. First the blessing of God is to
be labored for, by humbling your selves and your
people with Daniel before the Lord (Dan, 9. 1. 3.), in
fasting and praier, and then you shal see he wilbe
with your cndevours. Secondly you must enjoine
every one according unto his place, to have a hand
in this worke, and encourage the gentlemen, and
people that shalbe found forward, by gracing and
countenancing them for their forwardnesse in religion,
and shewing that the more forward they be, the more
credit they are like to purchase with your Hh.

High Court of Parliament. 69

(Nom, 14. 39.) And you must not suffer an uncir-
cumcisetl mouth to bring a slander upon that good
land, whereunto the Lord oft'ereth to bring you and
your people, if you would obey (Nom. 14. 10.), much
lesse, to lift up a stonn against Caleb or Joshuah, that
withstand the fury of a whol wicked hoast in the
defence of the Lord. For otherwise, if you suffer al to
sit stil, and looke upj)on our desolations, the most to
live on the sweetnes of our mines, and discountenance
all that labour therein, you can looke for nothing else
shortly ; but that lamentable complaint, and it is a
great work of God, that we have heard the same long
agoe, of everie possessor in this land. Whyther shall
wee goe ? Our brethren and their hard intertainment
have discouraged our harts (Deut. 1. 18.) ; woulde to
God that we had died in the Land of Egipt, would to
God we weare dead : were it not better for us to turne
into Egipt ? com let us make a captaine and returne
thyther (Nom. 14. 3.) The land in deed is a good
land, whereunto, when our soveraigne brought us out
of Egipt, wee entended to make our jorney : but,
alasse ! we are never able to stand against the povertie,
losses, imprisonment, discountenance by our superiors,
that our brethren have sustained, which have set their
faces against this land, never able to swallowe up the
slanders and bitter names of Puritans, precisians, traitos,
seditious libellers, &c. that we see raised against those
that would bring us thyther. And therefore, my LI.

70 A Supplication unto the

and the rest of the high assemblie, in vaine shall you
use other meanes, and leave this unattempted.

The redresse of Wales consisteth of 2. partes, both
must be speedely set upon by your Hh., or els certainly
the judgements of God will finde you out. First you
must abolishe out of the Churche whatsoever you shal
finde to be a breach of gods ordinance (as I have
prooved dumbe ministers, nonresidents, and L.Bb. to
be) or els your reformation will be little better then
that of the Samaritanes (2. Kin. 17. 33.), who feared
Jehovah, but worshipped their owne gods. I woulde
have it marked in this place, what is required at the
handes of the parhament, that it may thereby appeare,
whether with any colour of reason, this part of the
petition in hand can be denied. The parliament is
desired to enact, that no unlawfull calling be toUeratecl
under the government within the church of God in
AVales ; if they will not yeeld unto this part of the
suite, now put up in the behalfe of that people ; what
cloake doe they leave unto themselves, whereby they
may but cover their small care to glorifie God 1 Is
not the case to be astonied at, that an assembly pro-
fessing true religion, cannot be drawne to yeeld unto so
just a request, it is a hard matter I grant, to build the
church of God : Men most willing to bring that worke
to passe, cannot doe it ; but there is no difficultie in
the worlde for the parliament of England to manifest
that, although they cannot go so far in promoting the

High Court of Parliament. 71

Gospell as they woulde wislie ; yet tliat they will not
at any hand maintaine by lawe any thing which may
hinder the course thereof. Wei, let as nianye as are
parliament men looke unto this, as sure as the Lord
liveth, they shall answere one day, before him, who is
the judge of quicke and dead, and give a reason why
they would not consent to root out sinne, and the breach
of sods law, out of this common wealth. Do they
seek the innovation of the state, who desire, that no
lawe or statute may be in force, which upholdeth the
transgressing of Gods holy institution '{ Or may they
be accounted dangerous subjects unto their prince,
who cannot abide that any treson against God should
be countenanced 1 Wei, this branche of the suite is
such, as the Tridentine conspiracie would blush to pro-
fes the rejecting therof. What then may be thought
of the high court of parliament, if it cannot be there
granted 1

The second meanes for you to redress the estate of
Wales must bee this ; you must place as many godly
learned men as can be found, to call the people, and
see them provided for. But here great advice is to be
taken, where, and ho we they be placed. First then,
you are to looke out the places that are fittest, by all
likeHhood, to receive the word, and unto those, to
have the speciallist regard. For seeing you are
not able, at once, to furnish the whole countrie with
able men, you must first have regard of that part of

72 A Supi'dication unto the

the harvest which is most readie for the mowers.
This respect we see the spirite of God to have had,
Act 16. 7. Where the spirit would not suffer Paule to
go to Bythnia, but rather tooke his jouruey to Mace-
donia, where, by revelation, verse 9. 10, hee was-
assured that there was preparation made for the re-
ceiving of the gospell. Concerning the other point,
the ministers that shaU be sent must not be scattered
a sunder one here, and another there in the countrie ;
neither sent one by one, but many must be sent toge-
ther, and placed so nere one another as may be. And
so the ministers, having sedification, and comfort one
by another, shall neither decay in their gifts, nor be
discouraged ; and the people, by this means, shall be
sure to be thorowly called. If the complaint be made
for want of sufficient men, and sufficient stay for their
living : For the men, take all those whome the Lorde
hath made fit for this worke, and he can require no
more at your hands, until he raise up more, which, if
he never do, your good endevours, and encouragemnte
unto students and others, not being wanting to bring
this to passe, he cannot in justice punish you, though
your people be not taught. Because you have seen
all those well bestowed whom he quallified for the
calling, and so doe now expect a blessing from him
upon your labours, that you might send more. The
subterfuo-e will be but the coat of a net, to aske (as
comonly your prelats do) how there should be possibly

High Court of Parliament. 73

founde, as many learned men as Wales requiretli,
seeing they who are found, are not placed there. And
do you deale well with the Lorde, that because all
cannot be brought at once to serve him, as he willeth,
therefore they that may shall not 1 The same is to
bee said of the ministers livings. Kemove the dumb
ministers, non-residents, L.Bb. (if you will not do this
you go besides the word of God, and so there is no
dii-ection for you) and there will be more livings void,
able to maintain godly ministers, then shall be, I fear
me, good men found to supply their places. And,
verily, I mar vail, what men perswade themselves the
Lord to be ; whereas they thinke he can be satisfied
with such sielie shifts 1 Is it not a strange matter to
find Church livings in Wales for L.Bb. non-residents, and
dumb ministers, to sin against God, and starve soules
withall, and deny any to be there for godly ministers
to honor God and worke the salvation of his people.
The children must starve for want of bread, because
the doffs before their eies must be fed therewith.
Good reason ? yea, but the removing of those men
would be likely to set the land on fire. Marke how
subtill the devil is, in the maintenaunce of his king-
dome. When godly ministers aie deprived, because
they will not linke themselves with wicked Bb. to be-
tray the kingdome of Christ, and overthrow the lawes
of this land, there is no inconvenience feared. But if
Satan's messengers be once shoved at, behold, the land

L

74 A Supplication unto the

will not be able to becar this loss. I grant, indeed, that
men which make no conscience for gains sake, to
breake the law of the seternall, and massaker soules
(as these do) are dangerous subjects, and not to be
trusted any farther then they are fed.

The most of them are imsaverye salt, such as have
hitherto lived upon sacriledge and the spoil of soules.
Order might be taken, notwithstanding, by the magis-
trates, that these and their families should neyther
want things necessarie for their outward estate, nor
yet be maintayned in idleness. For the people, the
stay for them is, eyther in regard of publike meetings
on the Sabboth, or the sacraments, marriage, or buriall.
For the keeping of the Sabboth, the worde requireth
they should, if possiblie they can, resort where preach-
ing is, until good ministers be placed in every
parish ; if the places be far, as commonly our parishes
be verye large, and it is not likely in short time to
plant preachers so neere together, as the people may
every Sabboth resort unto them, they must be en-
joyned to meete together in their parish churches, and
some discreet man amono; themselves to read the
worde, and use some forme of prayers,as shall be thought
meetest, by the advise of the godly learned. Con-
cerning the sacraments, the word requireth they should
resort unto a precliing minister for them, and not
attempt to keep their children unbaptized any longer,
then they must of necessity. Marriage is most con-

High Court of Parliament. 75

veniently to be clone by the minister, but i& no proper
essential worke of the minister, and, therefore, may
be solemnized by others, at the magistrates appoint-
ment. Concerning burial, it is a worke of christian
charitie, and being the last duetie that we are to per-
forme towards the departed, we ought to accompany
them decently and orderly, with all comliuess to the
grave. The word mentioneth or includeth no forme
of prayer used at buriall ; therefore they are super-
fluous, neyther is the minister, as in an action belong-
ing to his office, to have any more to doe herein, then
any other of the brethren.

Thus I have set downe unto your Hh. the only
course in regarde of substance that the worde war-
ranteth to be taken in such a deformed estate as
ours is. And nowe, my LI. and the rest of this
honorable assembly, let my counsell be acceptable
unto you ; breake of your sinnes, by rooting out
these plants, which the Lorde never planted in his
vineyarde, and your iniquities, by abandoning the same
so much as in you lietli, so there might be a healing of
your former oversight. If not, the Lords face will be
against you, yours, and the whole land, for evil and
not for good. Oh, my Lords, is it not a miserable
case, that men should so live under your goverment
in this life, as they cannot possibly but live in hel in
the life to come 1 Oh, my LL, heven cannot be ob-
tayned when we are gon. Oh, my LL, now is the time

76 A Supplication unto the

for the gospell to florisli in Wales or never. Ob, my
LI., if lier majestie and your honors (whom from my
verye heart I wish the Lorde to bless) should be gone
the way of all the world ; for mine owne part, the
staffe of mine hope, to see any good done amongst
my brethren should be broken. Blame me not, there-
fore, if I deal earnestly in a cause of so great a
moment, and so unlikely to be obtayned of our woful
posterities, whom my suit in a most neere sort con-
cerneth. Oh, why should they have cause to say, the
Lord be judge between us and the governours which
were under Queene Elizabeth, in the days of our
fathers, for they might have opened our eyes and
healed our woundes, which, now alasse, are desperat
and past recovery.

It is now full 30. yeares and upward since Babylon
hath bin overthrowne in Wales, rather by the voice of
her majesties good laws (whom, good Lord, forget not
for this worke) then the sounde of any trumpet from
the mouthes of the sonnes of Aaron among us. But
alasse, what shall we and our posterities be the better
for this, if Sion bee not built '? And what comfort can
Zerubbabel, or Nehemiah have, to bring them out of
Babylon, if they meane but to resedifie Shilo, seeing it
is the beautie of Sion wherein the Lorde delighteth ?
We have cause in deed to thauke God, that this wicked
citie hath beene by her ]\Lajestie broken downe in some
sort ; but are ne\'er the better, seeing the walles of

High Court of Parliament. 77

Sion lie even with the groimde. Nowe for the space
of 28. yeares, no man greatly laboured to her Majestie,
the parliament, or the people themselves, eyther by
speaking or writing in the behalfe of eyther of these
unreconcilable cities. Men belike, thinkinsf no more to
be required at their hands then the razing of Babel,
and the divel as yet contenting himselfe with Bethel.
The last parliament, by al liklihod the very same week
upon a sodaiue, the interprises of the building of both
in 2. several books, issuing from 2. of the remotest
corners in our lands (South wales and North wales) was
taken in hand. The one of the books pleading the
cause of Sion, and comming forth by publike authority
and alowance, was dii'ected unto her Majestie and the
parliament, requiring at their hands by vertue of the
lords own mandatory letters, the performance of this
work, shewing by evidence of greatest antiquitye this
to be required of duty at their hands, as a part of the
homadge due unto his highnes, whose foedaries and vas-
sales all the 23rinces and states under heaven must
acknowledg them selves to be, and a portion of that
inheritance being theirs by lineall dissent, from their
predecessors, the godly kings and rulers, who time out
miude alwaies laid theii- shoulders unto this burthen.
The other written in weltch, (Y druch Christianogawi)
printed in an obscure cave in Northwales, published by
an author unknowne and more unlerned (for 1 think
he had never read any thing but the common published

78 A Siqoplication unto the

resolution of K. P., a booke contayning many substan-
tial! errors, Fryer Eush, and other shamful fables)
stood to by non, and having no reason to shew why
his BabHon should be rsedefied, it contained it self
within the hands of a fewe private men, and never
durst to this houre be made knowne unto any of our
mao;estrats. Both the books in this thino; had the
same successe, in that both together they fel into the
hands of the prelats, who, as they pretend, are enemies
unto both places, but undoubtedly unto Sion espe-
cially, as it apeared by their hard dealing with the
patrone of that cause, whereas the fautors of the other,
being also in their handes, were either not at al delt with,
or very curteously entertained of them.* The reason
of their enemity unto both, but their hatred unto Sion
is, that never I feare me, meaning to go thether, and
constrained by lawe to be enemies unto the other, they
have of the e;old of Caldea, and the di^osse of Jerusalem
compacted them a citty, wherewith they meane to
content them selves until they returne to Babel again,
or (the Lord be merciful unto them) unto a worse
place. Have they not therfore good cause to be the
more beholding to the on for the gold, then the other
for the drosse ; Wei be you assured hereof, that they
who stirred up both these instruments, both at one
time, will never suffer them to cease, until in Wales
either a church of C'hrist, or a sinagogue of sathan be

* This is spoken in respect of the chui-ch government.

High Court of Parliament. 79

built. Out of question the concurring of botli causes,
sheweth that the lord hath som secret work in the
matter. Sathans instruments for their parts, were
never busier then they are at this houre, and shal I be
silent? They trecherously against the lawes of God
and this land seek to bring the people again unto
Egipt. I according unto both, endevour never to let
them rest, until it please the Lord by meanes of her
Majesty and the parlament, to bring them within the
land of promise, no tliough they were uppon Mount
Nebo, whence with their eies they might view the
same. They have delt, and deal secretly with poor
soules in dark corners, and dare not make knowne the
fabulous cause. I have delt al this while in the face
of the sun, and nowe before the state of the land
assembled together, I want not a good cause, and by
the grace of god, it shal never want the poore defence
which I cann yeld unto it, or hide the face as long as
I live, whether you countenance it or no, I know that
on day it shal prevail, when this wdlbe the Lord
knoweth best : but the matter is, whether vou wil
embrace Christ in the building of his Church, or Sathan
in continuing the breaches thereof. Therfore enter-
taine this cause, and you give Sathan the foile, reject
this, and you strengthen him. And try if you deny it
the hearing, whether the very papists in this land, wil
not be thereby encoraged to suj^plicate unto the par-
liament, that you would graunt them the liberty of

80 A Supplication unto the

their seared consciences, to commit publike idol-
atry.

Al tliat hitherto I have spoken, hath ben said either
in the cause of Christ, which is a good cause, or in the
behalfe of Sathan. If I seeke the building of his sina-
gog, wil you let me live ? If of the church of Christ,
wil you deny me your help \ which yet againe and
agaiue, in the name of the eternal God I require, and
for the precious deth and passions sake of Jesus Christ,
I earnestly desire at your handes. My LI. and who-
soever are parlament men, as you would have the
Lord to entertaine your souls in the life to come, as
you would have him shewe you any mercy, as you
love Her Majesty and her life, as you would have the
continuance of her peaceable raign over us, which the
Lord undoutedly threatneth to shorten, because he
woulde bring destruction upon you and us al, for the
contempt of his truth, as you would not have
your names razed from under heaven, as you would
not have the Lord to bring upon us and our land, the
Spanish, Italian, Eomish or Guisian forces, as you
would not have these, who shal live to see the desola-
tion and desperat sorrow which the Lord is likely to
bring upon this land, not abide to see you or your
children ride, or go in the strets, as you would not
have the most contemtible to stretch forth his hand
upon the derest things j'ou posses, and offer violence
unto the frute of your bodies % So entertaine this

High Court of Parliament. 81

cause, grant tliis suite, and be careful of the Lords
true service in Wales. Otherwise, the vensreance of God,
I feare me, will never leave you and 3'our posterities, as
long as there is a man of your houses left under
heaven.

Ezekiel in deed is not nowe living, to put you in
mind of the necessity of redressing the things amis, by
laying open the corruptions of all estates under your
government, as he doth cap. 22. of his prophesie. His
words I ml set downe that you may wey our estate,
with the time wherin the prophet lived, and see
whether the Lorde wil spare you and us, if we stil
provoke him to smite. There is a conspiracy of her
prophets in the middcst thereof, saith the prophet,
like a roring lyon, ravening the pray, they have
devoured soules, they have taken the riches and the
precious thinges : they have made her many widdows
in the middest thereof, her priests have broken my
law, and have defiled my holy things : they have put
no difference betweene the holy and profane, neither
discerned between the uncleane and the cleane, and
have hid their eies from my sabboth, and I am pro-
faned among them. Her princes in the middest
thereof are like wolves ravening the pray, to shed
blood and to destroy soules, for their owne covetous
lucre. And her prophets have daubed her with un-
tempered morter, seeing vanities and devininge lyes
unto them, saying, thus saith the Lord Jehovah, when

M

82 ' A Supplication unto the

Jehovah had not spoken. The people of the land have
violently oppressed, by robbing and spoiling, and have
vexed the poor and needy : yea, they have opressed
the stranger against right. Thus far Ezechiel. Be
the sinns of our prophets, of our princes, and of our
people the same, that here he speketh against, be they
greater or be they lesse : yet without controversie, if '
the Lord may say, I have sought for a man in the
parliament of England, that should make up the
hedge, and stand in the gapp, before me for the land,
that I should not destroy it, but I found none : then
woe be unto us, for that shal follow which is set downe
in the prophete. Therefore have I powred out mine
indignation uppon them, and consumed them with the
fier of my wrath : their own waies have I rendered
upon their heads, saith the Lord Jehovah ; And un-
lesse there were just cause to thinke that this Lorde
had either already or shortly ment to pronounce this
sentence against us, we might contemne and scorn at
the broken assalts of the Spaniards, or any other the
enemies of the Gospel, and her Majesties whosoever.
But as long as we give not the right hand to the Lord,
by entering into his sanctuarye, we have just cause to
feare a nation that is no nation, much more a people
m number as the sand which is by the seashore. Our
leao-ues and most stable covenants with the enemies
the Lord will soone disanul, standing thus at the
staffes end with his Majestic, as we doe.

High Court of Parliame^it. 83

Let it not be sayd in this place, that the Lord would
not have so wonderfully wrought onr late dcliveraimce
out of the hand of the Spaniarde, if he ment at al to
have called the land to reckoning for the great igno-
rance, and wicked ecclesiasticall constitutions, which
are truly sayd to be maintained therein. For this,
both Moses and Saloman, note to be the man of all
those that shall not prolong their dayes (Deut. 29. 18.
49. 20.) Moses warneth al states in any case to take
heed that there should not be among them man,
woman, family, nor tribe, which should turne his hart
away from the Lord God, so that when he heareth the
wordes of the curse, he blesse him selfe in his hart,
saying, I shall have peace though I walked after the
stubbornenes of mine owne hart, thus adding drunken-
nes unto thirst. For, saith he, the Lord wil not be
mercifull unto that man : but then the wrath of the
Lorde shall smoke against that man, and every curse
that is written in this booke shal light upon him, and
the Lord shall put out his name from under heaven,
and the Lord shal seperate him unto evil, according
unto all the curses that is writen in the booke of the
lawe. And Soloman knowing the corruptions of men
to be such (Eccles. 8. 11. 13) as their harts are fully
set in them to doe evil, because sentence against their
evil works is not spedely executed, openly testifieth,
that although a sinner doe evill an hundreth times, and
the Lord prolong his days, yet it shal only be well

84 A Su2')ijlication unto the

with them that feare the Lord, and do reverence before
him. But it shall not be wel with the wicked (saith
he), for he shalbe like a shadow, because he feare th not
before God. And therefore although at this time the
Lords anger hath not visited, nor caled the sinnes of
our land to account, with gret extremity by the hand
of the Spanyard : yet let us be assured that it shall not
goe wel with us, unlesse you of the high court of par-
liament shew that you feare your God, and doe rever-
ence before him, in purging out of his holy service
what soever is superfluous therein, and in adding what-
soever is wanting thereunto. The Lord by that deli-
verance, gave us warning that he passed by us, but so
as, unlesse the corruptions of his service be clean don
away with speed by her Majestic and the parliament,
meaneth to passe by us no more : but to sufier his
whol displeasure to fall uppon us at his next comming.
And in deed, as often as I consider our late defence
from the Spanish invasion, together with our deserts, I
am induced to think that the Lord then was affected
towards us, as sometimes he was towards Israel his
owne people, concerning whom he speaketh, Deut. 32.
26. I have said, I would scatter them abrod, I wold
make their remembrance to cease from among men,
save that I feared the fury of the enemie, lest their
adversaries should wax proud, and lest they should
say, our high hand and not the Lord hath done al this.
Therefore let not our deliverance harden, you of the

High Court of Parliament. 85

parliament, in the sinn of maintayning the breaches of
the Lords house. The same Lord that wrouo^ht our
deliverance, wil surely be the cause of our ruine, if his
honor be so neglected by you as usually before time it
hath ben. And we are to take heed, lest the Lord
seeing our profane and vaine insulting of the victory,
when we are not a whit bettered thereby, send some
Jeremy among us which may cry, as he did unto the
king and states of his time, in the like matter. Thus
saith the Lord God of Israel, thus shal you say to the
parHament of England. Behold, except at this your
meeting, all the deformities that are tollerated in my
service be at once done away, and except you grant
free passage unto my gospel, the navy of the Spaniard
which I discomfited before you, shal come againe, and
fight against this land, and waste it with fire and
sword. Therefore deceive not your selves, saying, the
Spaniardes are so weakened by their last discomfiture,
that they are not able to pursue their intended inva-
sion, for it shal not be so. No, though you had smitten
the whole hoste of the Spaniard that fought against
you, and there remained but wounded men amonge
them : yet should every man rise up in his tent, and
overrun this land. And let us looke assuredly, when-
soever the abject and contemtible enemy shall assaile
us, abject and contemptible I say, in al respectes, in
comparison of the value and strength of our men and
munition (and the Lord increase them a thousand fold

86 A Suj)plication unto the

more) that this God, whose service is so litle estemed
of us, "uil send a terror into the hart of our vahantest
and stoutest men, so that he, whose hart is as the hart
of a Kon, shalbe as weake as water : and on enemye
shal chase a thousand of us, because the hand of the
Lord wilbe against us for our sinns. It is not there-
fore the Spanish furniture and preparations : but the
sins within the land, which we are most of all to feare.
For although the army of the Spaniard were consumed
with the arrowes of famine : although the contagious
and devouring pestilence had eaten them up by thou-
sands : although their totterting shipps were dispersed,
and caried away with the whirlwinde and tempest,
although madnesse and astonishment were amongst
them, from him that sitteth in the throane, unto her
that grindeth in the mill : although the Lords reveng-
ing sword, in the hand of our valiant captain es and
souldiers, had so prevailed against them, as it had left
none in that uncircumcised hoast but languishing and
foyled men, notwithstanding a contemptible and wy-
thered remnant of the plague and famine : a navie of
winde and weather beaten ships, a refuse of feeble and
discomfited men, shalbe sufiiciently able to prevaile
against this lande ; unlesse another course be taken
for Gods glory in Wales by your Hh. then hitherto
hath bene. If I did speake unto infidels and ungodly
atheists, I know I should not be so plaine, because
unto such the trueth at sometimes is unseasonably

High Court of Parliament. 87

spoken. But I speake unto those that have under-
taken the profession of Christianitie, and therefore
shoukl at all times be fit to heare the trueth of God.
And I know no temporising trueth, no temporizing
judgements of God against sinne ; no trueth that is to
be concealed unto christians, because their Hh. cannot
brooke the same ; no trueth that is, eyther not at all,
or minsingly to be uttered, because states love not to
here thereof. So that I was in this matter, not to
consider what your high places were content to here,
but what was the dutie of your high places to heare.
And therefore I should thinke it (I protest) an undu-
tifull and flattering petition to entreat your Hh. not to
be offended with mee for uttering the trueth. As
though I supposed you would thinke it wonderful that
a man should adventure to speake, even in the cause
of his God, any farther then stood with your good
liking.

The sum of all that the Lord requireth at your
hands in the cause of his honour, is concluded in these
2. pointes. First, that you abrogate out of the Churche
whatsoever you finde therein to be a breach of Gods
ordinaunce. Secondly, that you countenance the
preaching of the word, in such sort, as the course
thereof be not stayed, for the pleasure or profit of any
creature. These poyntes are so reasonable, that who-
soever upon choise and deliberation denieth any of
them (of inconsideracie and want of due examination

88 A Supplication unto the

of matters, I know many things may be clone amisse)
I cannot see what he differeth from a plaine atheist.
And therefore againe I admonish you, in the name of
God, to looke unto your selves, and thorowjy to waigh
what the Lorde by the mouth of Ezekiel threatneth
against you, if you stil refuse his waies and mainteine
these bypaths of mans inventions in his Church. You
have feared the sworde, sayth the prophet, (Ezek. 11.
39 ; 10. 12) and I will bring a sworde upon you, sayth
the Lord Jehovah, and I will bring you out of the
middest of this land, and deliver you into the hands
of strangers, and execute judgements among you.
You shall fall by the sworde, and you shall know that
I am the Lorde ; for you have not walked in my sta-
tutes, nor executed my judgementes, but have done
after the manner of the heathen that are round about
you.

The lawes, offices and officers of our church, for the
most part, being not according to the statuts of the
lord, but framed after the maner of the popish govern-
ment, whereby the nations round about us are tmanized
by the man of sin ; that is not a matter to be wondered
at, that the alteration of our ecclesiastical state is desired.
And, besides, our saviour Christ and his gospell came
into the world, to alter yea and overthrow, states and
governements, in al things wherin they shoidd be con-
trary unto his wil, and I hope that you of this parlia-
ment will not deny him this prerogative. If I have

High Court of Parliament. 89

sought the removing of anything, which the lord re-
quireth not to be altered, I crave no pardon of mine
oversight. AVhat I have written in this whol treatise,
I am ready by the grace of God, personally to make
good (though it were uppon mine utmost peril) when-
soever I shalbe thereunto called, by you of this
honorable assembly, wherein there are many of good
estimation and credit, who, upon the motion of mine
appearance by this house, wil, I trust, undertake that I
shall come to stand unto the premises by me set downe.
So that I may obtain (which I most humbly crave of you,
R.Hh. and worshipfid) that upon mine appearance I be
not by any court, or prerogative (only the H. court of
parliament excepted, unto whom, as being the highest
council in the land, in this cause I apeale) debarred of
my liberty, before my cause according unto the word
be overthrowne. The injury which I sustained the
last parhament (being a suitor in this cause) enforceth
me to crave this at your hands, which otherwise, I
should have perswaded myselfe to be a needles suit.
For whereas the auncient priveledges and liberties of
this house, do give leave (during the parliament) unto
any that are suitors thereunto, quietly to follow their
suits without feare of any arrest, and being arrested,
do presently deliver and set them free, I was not suf-
fered to enjoy any the former Hberties. But contrary
unto all religion, law, equity, and conscience, to the
great derogation of the liberties of this noble court,

N

90 A Siq^plication unto the

was committed close prisoner by some, who abused the
high commission ; their deahng might have appeared
more tollerable, and lesse derogatorioiis unto your Hh.
and worships, if they had shewed any cause of mine
imprisonment (their abused authority only excepted)
which unto this day is altogether unknowne unto me.

I know, that the infirmities and wants of men, who
deale in good causes, are commonly beaten uppon the
back of the cause they handle. Therefore the Lord
knoweth how careful I have bin to keepe it unspotted,
and myselfe out of all unnecessary danger. Setting
downe nothing before I had considered what might
insue, either in regard of the matter or manner of de-
livery. But why did I publish a matter of such
waight, before I acquainted the parliament therewith \
AVhie it is published to the ende, that the parliament
may bee acquainted with the suite, which could not
be done by private writing. And it is but an un-
godly shifte of those that would smother the trueth,
to pretend it to be against the law, to move the par-
liament in any suit that is printed. As thogh the
suits of men unto that high courte, were parliament
statutes. Indeede, if the parliament had enacted the
remooving out of Wales, all L.Bb., dumb ministers, etc.,
then were it an intollerable part for any to publish
their actes, but by their appointment. Graunt you
the petition, and the cavill of committing it to the
presse will easily be answered. If you do not meane

High Court of Parliament. 91

to yeeld unto tlie suite, neither woulcle you liave done
it, being moved thereunto by private writing. The
cause I make known, to the end it may be granted,
and herein let not my life be precious unto me ; upon
the necessitie of the pubhshing hereof I stand, because
that the worlde may see when you redress these
things, that you did nothing, that you durst leave un-
done, unless you would bring swift destruction upon
yourselves and the whole lande. But what foUie is it
to thinke, that such great matters wilbe reformed in
our dayes. Eather what injury doe they unto the
whole state, who thinke that they vd\ any longer
tollerate the breach of Gods law. And in this point,
let the good opinion, that they who allege such pre-
tences conceive, be wayed with my dutiful perswasions
of this honorable assembly, and both causes judged
accordingly. For mine ownepart, I think the majestic
of the cause to be such, as they who are the Lordes,
dare not but entertaine it, and tremble to think, that
all this while, it hath been so carelessly attended upon.
And it is in the behalfe thereof, that I have presumed
to deale with you, who otherwise durst nor have suf-
fered my voyce to be heard, in the ears of the princes
of my people. Let what I have written bee examined,
yea, by mine adversaries themselves (if I have any)
and it shal appeare that I have made a conscience,
howe I have delt with my superiors, especially those
concerning whom it is said, you are Gods,, lest I should

92 A Sujpplication unto the

seem to leave beliind me the least print of a minde in
any sort tending to defame them or their governement.
As I have bene carefull hereof, so let the Lorde, yea,
and no otherwise (which I speak, as far as my corrup-
tions will permit), grant this cause, and myselfe also,
if it be his will, favour in your eyes. Indeed, in re-
garde of the cause, I come JNIandatorie wise, unto this
honorable assembly, but in regard of myselfe, I come
in feare and trembling, as unto the Lords vicegerents,
entreating most humbly, that the dignitie of so high
a cause be thoglit off, nothing the more dishonorably,
because it is brought in my hands. And I protest, in
respect of my sinnes, that the Lord may justly denie
it the favour it deserveth in your eyes, because I am a
dealer therein. But this should be no reason why the
parliament should give it a repulse. For in the eyes
and eares of al the world I make it knowne, that it is
the cause of the living god wherin I deal, and that if
it had been possible for me to have written more
humblye and dutifully, I had done it. Or if I had
scene anye waye that might have bene likelier to pre-
vail with my superiors then this, I take the Lorde to
witnesse unto my soule, that I would not have used
this course. And I would to God I could tcl how to
make the cause plawsible. So farre I am, from setting
downe anything that might carry with it any shewe of
occasion to hinder and disgrace the same. AVell, I
have done my endeavour, the suecesse I expect at the

High Court of ParUament. 93

Lords hands, unto whome I commend the cause and the
salvation of that poore people.

The sword of justice reached unto you by the Lorde
himselfe, to take punishment onely of him that is an
evil doer. I fear not, because I have not offended.
If it should be drawne against me for this action, the
president would be such, as they who meant hereafter
to prophesie unto you, might be advisedly counseled
not to prophesie, and the Lord, as a token of your just
destruction to ensue, would say they shall not
prophesie nor take shame. If I have spoken any un-
truth, beare witnes thereof ; if a trueth, I dare stand
to it by the Lords assistance, and demand what he is
that wiU presume to object and throw himself unto
the vengance of God, by punishing me an innocente ;
it is a common manner with some in these dayes, to
threaten those who deale in this cause nowe in hand,
but they are to know that it is not so easie a matter
to spil their bloud, whose daies are numbered with the
Lord. The Lord may (I may confesse with griefe) in
regard of my other sinncs, bringe mine head to the
grave with blood, but in this case what have I offended 1
And therefore undoubted Avoe wil betide him, that
shall molest me for this worke. Howe sover it l)e,
thus I have performed a duty towards the Lord, his
church, my country, and you of this high court, which I
wold doe if it were to be done againe, though I were

94 A Supplication unto the

assured to endanger my life thereby. And be it knoTVTie,
that in this case I am not afraid of earth. If I perish,
I perish. My comforte is, that I knowe whither to
go, and in that day wherein the secrets of all hearts
shal be manifested, the sincerity also of my cause shal
apeare. It is enough for me, howsoever 1 be miser- •
able in regard of my sinnes, that yet unto Christ I
both live and die, and purpose, by his grace, if my hfe
should be prolonged, to hve hereafter, not unto my-
self, but unto him and his church, otherwise than
hitherto I have don. The Lord is able to raise up
those that are of puerer hands and hpps then I am, to
write and speak in the cause of his honor in Wales.
And the Lord make them whosoever they shalbe
never to be w^anting unto so good a cause, the which,
because it may be the Lords pleasure, that I shal leave
them behind me in the world, I earnestly and vehe-
mently commend unto them, as by this my last wil
and testament. And have you, R. honorable and
worshipful of this parliament, poore Wales in remem-
braunce, that the blessing of many a saved soul therein,
may follow her Majestic, your Hh. and worships, over-
take you, light uppon you, and stick unto you for ever.
The eternal God give her Majestic and you the honor
of building his church in Wales, multiply the dales of
hir peace over us, bless her and you in this life, that in
the life to come, the inheritance of the kingdome of

High Court of Parliament. 95

heaven may be lier and your portion. So be it, good
Lord.

By him that hath bound himself continually,
to pray for your Hh. and worships.

JOHN PENEL

fr- "-le la?^'

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

0035519320

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